Students who accept the invitation to join Dispute Resolution Team will compete in one regional or national dispute resolution advocacy competition in both the fall and spring semester.  These competitions may be focused on arbitrations, negotiations, client counseling, or mediations.  Enrollment is based upon an audition process, generally held following final examinations in the Spring semester.  Students will audition for a specialty:  arbitration, mediation, negotiations, or client counseling.  Selected students will then participate in an external competition each semester that relates to their selected specialty.

 Further, students who accept the invitation to join Dispute Resolution Team will undergo rigorous training with a practitioner coach and periodic bonus critiques from College of Law faculty, Illinois alumni, and additional seasoned practicing attorney volunteers as competition weekend approach.  The Anderson Center for Advocacy and Professionalism will also provide additional workshops and programs to help with overall development as well as individual optimization.

Course Sequence/Corequisite/Prerequisites:  Students enrolled must complete Professionalism in Advocacy as a co-requisite during the spring semester.  Negotiations, CFI, Trial Advocacy, and Evidence are all highly recommended.

Evaluation:  Dispute Resolution Team is a two-hour graded course.  The grading will be on the College of Law’s mandatory curve for upper-level courses.  Grades will be based on participation and performance in several training sessions held throughout each semester, preparation and performance in regular practice sessions led by a faculty member coach, a final graded practice session prior to the competition, and finally based on performance in the assigned competition, inclusive of professionalism and contributions to the Dispute Resolution Team throughout the semester.

Course Classification: Experiential

 Students who accept the invitation to join Advanced Moot Court will undergo rigorous training with a practitioner coach and periodic bonus critiques from College of Law faculty, Illinois alumni, and additional seasoned practicing attorney volunteers as competition weekends approach.  Students enrolled in the course will also be required to participate in a summer training program that will be provided remotely via Zoom.  The Anderson Center for Advocacy and Professionalism will also provide additional workshops and programs to help with overall development as well as individual optimization.

 Advanced Moot Court competitions provide hands-on experiential training for future lawyers.  It also offers student development in prevailing over practical challenges that lawyers typically face in modern legal practice.  In addition to polishing their basic appellate advocacy skills, team members learn to analyze and master a record of trial, draft appellate briefs, navigate an appellate courtroom, engage in a conversation with an appellate court, and effectively employ complicated legal issues.

 Each Advanced Moot Court member will participate in two interscholastic tournaments each academic year at both the national and regional level.  Advanced Moot Court members will be expected to write a brief for each competition and to be prepared to provide oral argument for each competition.  Advanced Moot Court members will also be expected to help mentor and develop students enrolled in Moot Court.

 Students are selected for Advanced Moot Court through satisfactory completion of Moot Court the prior academic year.

Course Sequence and Co/Prerequisites:  Pre-requisite is Moot Court.  Students must complete Professionalism and Advocacy in the Spring semester as a co- or pre-requisite.  Advanced Appellate Advocacy, Evidence, and Trial Advocacy are highly recommended.

Evaluation:  Advanced Moot Court is a two-hour graded course.  The grading will be on the College of Law’s mandatory curve for upper-level courses.  Grades will be based on participation and performance in the moot court summer training program, a faculty grading of the competition brief, performance in a final appellate advocacy practice session prior to the competition, and finally based on performance in the moot court competition, inclusive of professionalism and contributions to the Moot Court Board throughout the semester.

Course Classification: Experiential

 Course Sequence and Prerequisites: Evidence (Law 682) and Trial Advocacy (Law 694) must have been taken prior to this course.

Evaluation: This course will be evaluated through daily quizzes concerning professional ethics, daily courtroom performance exercises, and a final mock trial.  Students will receive a grade for this course.

Course Classification:  Experiential

Course Sequence/Prerequisite:   Evidence (682) must be taken either concurrently or previously.

Evaluation:  Taking and Defending Depositions is a two-credit pass/fail course. Assessment will be based on class participation and assignments throughout the semester.

 Course Classification:  Experiential

Course Sequence/Prerequisite:   Evidence (682) must have been taken prior to this course

Evaluation:  This is a three-hour graded course.  Grades will be based on written assignments, classroom participation, performance in exercises, and a final examination.

Sequence and Prerequisites: Both Evidence (Law 682) and Trial Advocacy (Law 694) must have been taken prior to this course.

Evaluation:  This is a three-hour graded course.  Grades will be based on written assignment, in-class courtroom performance exercises, participation, and performance in the final mock trial.  While students will try their cases with a partner, each student will be graded individually.  Students will have an opportunity to meet their classmates during the first class meeting before partners are selected.

Course Classification:  Experiential

 The course will consist of lectures, discussions, and simulation exercises. Simulation exercises will provide an opportunity to participate in ADR. The course will require active participation and attendance throughout the semester.

 Sequence and Prerequisite: Some background and knowledge of employment or labor law is useful but not required.

Evaluation: The course will consist of lectures, discussions, and simulation exercises.   Simulation exercises will provide an opportunity to participate in ADR. The course will require active participation and attendance throughout the semester.   In addition to the required reading, there will be an examination and a final simulation exercise.

Course Classification: Experiential

 Students who accept the invitation to join Trial Team will undergo rigorous training with a practitioner coach and periodic bonus critiques from College of Law faculty, Illinois alumni, and additional seasoned practicing attorney volunteers as competition weekends approach.  Students enrolled in the course will also be required to attend a six-day trial immersive experience (held in-person at the College of Law) prior to the beginning of the fall semester taught by College of Law faculty and practicing attorneys.   The Anderson Center for Advocacy and Professionalism will also provide additional workshops and programs to help with overall development as well as individual optimization.

 Trial Team competitions provide hands-on experiential training for future lawyers. It also offers student development in prevailing over practical challenges that lawyers typically face in a modern legal practice. In addition to polishing their basic advocacy skills, team members learn to analyze and master a case file, navigate a courtroom environment, neutralize hostile or aggressive witnesses, and effectively employ the laws of evidence.

 Each Trial Team participates in two interscholastic tournaments each academic year at both the national and regional level. Trial Team members try at least one case during each semester of membership and, in doing so, they transfer knowledge gained in the classroom domain into firsthand practical experiences in the courtroom. Moreover, members have exceptional opportunities at trial advocacy tournaments to make valuable networking connections within the legal community with sitting judges, practicing attorneys, and peers from law schools across the country.

Course Sequence/Corequisite/Prerequisites:  Eligibility for the Trial Team requires the prerequisites or co-requisites of three College of Law courses: Evidence (Fall), Trial Advocacy (Fall), Professionalism in Advocacy (Spring).

Evaluation:  Trial Team is a two-hour graded course.  The grading will be on the College of Law’s mandatory curve for upper-level courses.  Grades will be based on participation and performance in the trial advocacy immersive held before the fall semester, participation and performance is an “applying evidence” exercise during the semester, performance in a final mock trial before the Advocacy Director prior to the competition trial, and finally based on performance in the trial competition participation, inclusive of professionalism throughout the semester.

Course Classification: Experiential

 This course meets twice a week and allows students to engage with both internal and external instructors, giving them unparalleled opportunities to learn from a variety of experienced attorneys. Customarily, each week a trial advocacy topic will be introduced in a large group session and demonstrated by College of Law faculty. A second small group session will follow the next week and consist of a hands-on 2.5-hour practical exercise workshop limited to 12 participants in each small group. This scheduling methodology allows ample time for students to process and master each topic before being called on to practice it in their small group meetings.

While the primary focus of the Trial Advocacy curriculum is to prepare students for a career in litigation, the program also conveys significant benefits to students interested in a transactional or other non-litigation practice. Through the Trial Advocacy curriculum, students will gain exposure to the key elements of a legal career in any field, including ethics and professional responsibility, analytical and critical thinking skills, communication and presentation skills, and norms for interaction with clients and other stakeholders.

 Prerequisite/Corequisite Course: Evidence (Law 682) must have already been taken (prerequisite) or can be taken at the same time (corequisite).

Evaluation:  This is a four-hour graded course.  Grades will be based on written assignments, in-class courtroom performance exercises, participation, and performance in the final mock trial.  While students will try their cases with a partner, each student will be graded individually.  Students will have an opportunity to select their partners for their final trials.

Course Classification:  Experiential

Sequence and Prerequisites: None

Evaluation: Class participation, participation in mediation role playing, and a final video recording session.

Course Classification:  Experiential