JD Concentration in Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution
Intro Heading link
The JD Concentration in Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution provides degree candidates career distinction in litigation and dispute resolution by developing practical client counseling, negation, mediation, pretrial, arbitration, litigation, trial, and courtroom-ready skills. In addition to designated coursework, degree candidates seeking the JD Concentration in Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution benefit from completing an approved litigation based clinic and/or externship (requiring a 711 license) that hones the candidate’s practical courtroom experience.
Requirements and Learning Outcomes Heading link
Declaration to Pursue the Concentration: Students who intend to pursue this concentration are strongly encouraged to consult the faculty director at the end of the semester in which they complete 30 credit hours, in order to ensure that they will be able to complete the concentration. After the final degree and concentration audits are competed, JD Concentrations are conferred and applied to students’ records.
General Requirements
JD students may earn only one concentration. Degree candidates interested in enhancing their career opportunities with the JD Concentration in Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution must complete a minimum of 15 credits, including two experiential learning credits, and must graduate with a cumulative overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.25 in trial advocacy and dispute resolution coursework.
Students who matriculated prior to August 16, 2019, are subject to degree requirements in place when they first enrolled, provided they complete those requirements within the time limit for degree completion and do not interrupt their enrollment without formal approval. Students should consult the appropriate concentration faculty director regarding their concentration requirements.
Required Courses
Students are required to complete one of the following courses:
- Trial Advocacy (TADR 400, 3 Credits)
- Trial Advocacy: Accelerated (TADR 401, 3 Credits)
- Trial Lawyer: Advocacy (TADR 402, 3 Credits)
Concentration candidates must complete at least two credits from the following options:
- Clinic: Fair Housing Class (JD 539, 2 Credits)*
- Clinic: Fair Housing Clinic (JD 541, 3 Credits)*
- Clinic: Pro Bono Litigation Class (TADR 462, 2 Credits)*
- Clinic: Pro Bono Litigation Clinic (TADR 464, 3 Credits)*
- Clinic: Veterans Class (TADR 487, 2 Credits)*
- Clinic: Veterans Clinic (TADR 488, 3 Credits)*
- Externship: Criminal (TADR 473, 2-3 Credits)*
- Externship: Local Government & NP (TADR 472, 2-3 Credits) *â€
- Externship: JD Advanced (TADR 475, 1-3 Credits) â€
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Legend
*Concentration candidates who take an experiential course must take both the class and clinic/field placement components.
†Concentration candidates interested in these opportunities should contact the program director.
Trial Advocacy Courses
Students must complete at least two credits from the following list:
- Advanced Trial Advocacy (TADR 403, 3 Credits)
- Conflict of Laws (TADR 448, 3 Credits)
- Criminal Procedure: Adjudication (TADR 445, 2 Credits)
- Criminal Procedure: Police Investigations (LAW 536, 3 Credits)
- Deposition Practicum (TADR 420, 2 Credits)
- Expert Witnesses (TADR 429, 2 Credits)
- E-Discovery (TADR 422, 2 Credits)
- Federal Criminal Law (LAW 570, 3 Credits)
- Jury Selection (TADR 424, 2 Credits)
- Lawyering Skills IV: Drafting: Civil Litigation (TADR 461, 2 Credits)
- Lawyering Skills IV: Drafting: Criminal Litigation (TADR 460, 2 Credits)
- Litigation Technology (TADR 428, 3 Credits)
Note: TADR 410, 411, 412, and 413 credits taken for participation in a trial team Trial Advocacy/ADR Dispute Resolution Team Competition, Barristers’ Board, Moot Court Competition Team, or Moot Court Executive Board may be applied by exception towards Trial Advocacy electives. Credits will not be applied until a request has been made to the Program Director and that request has been approved.
Dispute Resolution Courses
Students must complete at least two credits from the following list:
- Alternative Means of Dispute Resolution (TADR 414, 2 Credits)
- Arbitration (TADR 421, 2 Credits)
- Counseling & Negotiations (TADR 426, 3 Credits)
- Externship: Restorative Justice Class (TADR 476, 2 Credits)
- Externship: Restorative Justice (TADR 477, 1 Credit)
- Family Law (LAW 460, 3 Credits)
- International Commercial Dispute Resolution (JD 523, 2 Credits)
- Labor Law (LAW 502, 3 Credits)
- Mediation & Mediation Advocacy (TADR 423, 2 Credits)
Note: TADR 410, 411, 412, and 413 credits taken for participation in Trial Advocacy/ADR Dispute Resolution Team Competition, Barristers’ Board, Moot Court Competition Team, or Moot Court Executive Board may be applied by exception towards Dispute Resolution electives. Credits will not be applied until a request has been made to the Program Director and that request has been approved.
Please review each course description to determine what prerequisites apply.
Learning Outcomes
Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution Learning Outcomes
- Graduates will learn the fundamentals of dispute resolution and be prepared to participate in an ADR proceeding.
- Graduates will understand the components of trial practice, be able to construct legal theories, and be able to conduct opening arguments, witness examinations, objections, and closing arguments.
- Graduates will work with clients in a litigation-based setting and develop skills including client counseling, recognizing and resolving ethical concerns arising out of the representation of clients, and preparing a case for a dispute resolution proceeding or trial.
JD Learning Outcomes
- Graduates will be able to identify and apply key concepts in substantive and procedural law.
- Graduates will be able to conduct legal research and legal analysis, engage in problem-solving, and effectively communicate both orally and in writing.
- Graduates will be able to identify and apply professional and ethical rules applicable to clients and the legal system.
- Graduates will demonstrate, at an appropriate level of proficiency, the skills necessary for an entry-level attorney.
