JD Concentration in Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution

Professor teaching Courses on Trial Advoacy

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 studentsโ€™ 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:

Concentration candidates must complete at least two credits from the following options:

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*Concentration candidates who take an experiential course must take both the class and clinic/field placement components.

โ€  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:

Note: TADR 410, 411, 412, and 413 credits taken for participation in a trial team Trial Advocacy/ADR Dispute Resolution Team Competition, Barristersโ€™ 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:

Note: TADR 410, 411, 412, and 413 credits taken for participation in Trial Advocacy/ADR Dispute Resolution Team Competition, Barristersโ€™ 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

  1. Graduates will learn the fundamentals of dispute resolution and be prepared to participate in an ADR proceeding.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

  1. Graduates will be able to identify and apply key concepts in substantive and procedural law.
  2. Graduates will be able to conduct legal research and legal analysis, engage in problem-solving, and effectively communicate both orally and in writing.
  3. Graduates will be able to identify and apply professional and ethical rules applicable to clients and the legal system.
  4. Graduates will demonstrate, at an appropriate level of proficiency, the skills necessary for an entry-level attorney.