Center for Excellence in Advocacy
Intensive Trial Advocacy Program (ITAP)
ITAP offers unique opportunity in trial skills training. The Advocacy Center instituted this two-credit course for training law students to be trial lawyers. This innovative course immerses students in trial practice for seven full days, under the direction of a 25-person faculty. In one intense week, students learn how to try a civil or criminal case skillfully, an opportunity available at few law schools across the country.
Robinson Courtroom and Bianchino Technology Center
Our contemporary courtroom incorporates modern technology, including video teleconferencing, Internet access for remote broadcast of trials, evidence presentation, and electronic legal research. Washburn Law students trained in this courtroom are comfortable and knowledgeable about courtroom technology and presenting evidence electronically.
The Center for Excellence in Advocacy builds on the law school's long history of graduating outstanding trial lawyers and judges. Through its innovative blend of scholarship, skills training, and research, the Advocacy Center trains law students to be persuasive, ethical, and skilled advocates. The Center is also recognized as a leader in advancing the scholarship of advocacy through its continuing legal education programs and research in trial behavior, trial process, and effective advocacy.
The Advocacy Center encompasses a broad range of studies, including civil litigation, commercial litigation, criminal law, appellate practice, trial advocacy, arbitration, and mediation, among others. In many ways, effective advocacy crosses all practice areas. Although not every law student will become a trial lawyer, most will benefit from learning effective advocacy and negotiating skills. That's why Washburn Law students are encouraged to enroll in an advocacy course before graduation — and most students do.
Learning From Experts
At the heart of the Advocacy Center's mission is its commitment to bringing students together with faculty and experienced trial lawyers and judges. The Advocacy Center's lecture-luncheon series, for example, encourages students to meet regularly with practicing lawyers to discuss relevant legal issues and to ask questions. Students attend Center-sponsored workshops and conferences and meet with the Center's annual Advocacy Scholar in Residence.
National and Regional Reputation
The National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) selects Washburn Law as a regional training facility for its skills-based programs. Both the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit and the Kansas Court of Appeals visit Washburn Law, hearing oral arguments on campus and meeting with students. These events are hosted and organized by the Center for Excellence in Advocacy.
Recent programs have demonstrated how to use electronic courtroom technology effectively, what lawyers can learn from a medical autopsy, and techniques for direct and cross-examination. Students also participated in a major conference on representing defendants in a capital case. Prominent lawyers and authorities on the death penalty and a former death row inmate joined Advocacy Center faculty in illuminating the issues faced by defendants and their lawyers.
Certificate in Advocacy
For students who have a serious interest in the art, science, and law of advocacy, Washburn Law offers the Certificate in Advocacy. The Certificate is an acknowledgment by the faculty that the student has successfully completed a focused course of study in this area of legal practice.
Student Society
The Washburn Advocacy Society, which is open to all law students, is directly involved in the development of many of the Advocacy Center's activities. The Society also operates a Web page, with links to cases, statutes, law review articles, and other resources key to current course work.
Putting Skills into Practice
Through the Law Clinic, students have the opportunity to put their advocacy skills to work by representing real clients in actual cases. Students may also participate in the Externship Program, where they can refine their skills under the supervision of practicing attorneys in off-campus placements..
Other Opportunities
Students sharpen their advocacy skills by participating in national trial advocacy competitions or moot court events. Advocacy Center faculty and alumni serve as team coaches, teaching skills that students will use long after the competitions are completed.
Washburn students have recently earned national awards in a number of skills competitions. In three moot court competitions, students garnered first place, best respondent's brief, best oralist, and runner-up for best respondent's brief. Washburn's trial advocacy team finished first in the 2005 ATLA regional trial advocacy competition and reached the semi-final round of the national competition.
