Curriculum Planning
Advocacy Program Curriculum Planning
by Megan Canty
Assistant Director of the Advocacy Center
Loyola's curriculum in the broad area of advocacy education and training is extensive. A wide variety of over 40 advocacy courses is available, taught by recognized academics and highly successful lawyers and judges.
The study of trial advocacy at Loyola begins with courses required of all students: the first year legal writing course and the advocacy course in the fall of the second year. Loyola students who are interested in furthering their studies in the field of advocacy are encouraged to take courses in trial advocacy, appellate advocacy, and alternative dispute resolution, in order to graduate with a well-rounded base of knowledge. Specific courses which will interest most students include Evidence and Trial Practice. All students are encouraged to take the Evidence course, both for its real world application and because it is a heavily tested area on the bar examination.
Advocacy education and training takes place in the courtroom as well as the classroom, and students are encouraged to involve themselves in student competition teams, externships, and clinics in addition to pursuing coursework. Loyola students have the opportunity to compete in mock trial teams, Moot Court, international arbitration, negotiation, client counseling, and mediation. Not only does Loyola has an outstanding record of success at competitions in all of these areas, but competing allows students to hone their advocacy skills through intensive training with coaches who are experienced in these practice areas. Through clinics and externships, students encounter real-life opportunities to represent clients in controlled settings and to develop the professional skills they will carry into their practice of law.
This training can be supplemented with upper level advocacy courses as well. Many students gain a better understanding of the work that goes into a full trial through courses such as Trial of a Medical Malpractice Case and Trial of an Antitrust case. Others enjoy learning about advancements in evidence and courtroom presentation in the Litigations Technology course. Some students choose to hone their writing skills in new areas, such as Pre-trial Litigation. Still others turn their attention to an international focus, studying International Commercial Arbitration and the CISG. The variety of courses available provides a wide array of options for students who wish to advance their advocacy skill sets.
While most students take some advocacy courses and either compete on an advocacy team or participate in a clinic or an externship, some students may decide to focus their law school careers on advocacy, earning a certificate of specialization in advocacy. This certificate requires students to take several advocacy courses, participate on a team or in a clinic or externship, and attend a series of extra-curricular advocacy events over their three years.
Further information on the advocacy curriculum, student competition teams, clinics, externship, and the certificate program is available at http://www.luc.edu/law/academics/special/center/advocacy.html.
