Trial and Dispute Resolution Council

Nationally Recognized Competitors

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Our competitive trial and dispute resolution teams work hard and our dedication pays off as UIC Law student competitors are consistently recognized in regional, national, and international competitions. The TADR Council is made up of students selected for trial and dispute resolution teams. As part of a team, students learn to compete at a high level, acquire invaluable litigation skills, and develop a strong work ethic and professionalism.  Our teams are coached by practicing attorneys and UIC Law faculty and compete in the areas of: civil and criminal litigation, arbitration, negotiation, client counseling, and mediation.

What We Do Heading link

Participation is based on a student’s commitment to ethically represent UIC Law through the student’s best efforts and to fully comply with each team’s rigorous and demanding practice schedule. Students are active in TADR Council in the following ways:

Along with practicing with their teams, council members assist in administering events, including internal competitions, regional ABA competitions, various intra-squad competitions, showcase events, lectures, panel discussions, and demonstrations dealing with various aspects of advocacy and alternative dispute resolution. Council members are active participants at dress rehearsals and workshops and must fulfill office and activity hour requirements as set forth in the syllabus.

Students are selected through a competitive interview and tryout process that takes place at the end of each semester. Students who have completed all first-year courses may try out for a dispute resolution team. Only students who have completed all first-year courses and have successfully completed Evidence or are enrolled in Trial Lawyer may try out for a trial team. Students may serve on one team per semester and may take up to two credits for team and/or board participation.

UIC Law also hosts national, regional, and internal competitions each year. These competition are judged, critiqued, and scored by practicing attorneys and judges. The Bradley Cosgrove 1L Mock Trial Competition held each spring is open to all UIC Law 1L students who have not yet taken Trial Advocacy or Evidence. The 1L Dispute Resolution Competition held each spring is open to all UIC Law 1L students. The Trial Team Trifecta is held at the end of the summer and is open only to students selected for a fall trial team. The Dispute Resolution Triple Crown is held during the summer and is open only to students selected for a fall ADR team.

Upcoming Competition Tryouts Heading link

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1L competitions begin in May.  Tryouts for students who are new to the program will be:

  • May 15 1L Dispute Resolution Competition
  • May 16 1L Bradley Cosgrove Trial Advocacy Competition
  • May 20 – May 29 Team Tryouts for students who are new to the program

Team Eligibility: Any student who has completed their first required 30 credits is eligible for a dispute resolution team. In order to be eligible for a trial team, students have the additional requirement of having completed Evidence and either finished or enrolled in Trial Ad this fall. Students selected for a team are eligible to take 1-2 credits for team participation. Students who have served one semester on a team are eligible to serve on our board.

Team Types: Fall teams compete across the country in the following practice areas:

  • Dispute Resolution Competitions: Negotiation, Mediation, Arbitration, Depositions, Pre-Trial Litigation
  • Trial Competitions: Both Civil and Criminal Trials

*It is common for students to serve on a dispute resolution team their 2L1 year, and then a trial team once they have enrolled in Trial Advocacy.

Tryout Process

Present a 5-minute opening statement, closing argument, or presentation on any non-legal topic of your choice, followed by an interview.

Next Steps: