Certificate in Advocacy (Pre 2023)

The requirements on this page are for students who declared an interest in pursuing the Certificate in Advocacy prior to January 2023.

Students declaring their interest in January 2023 will meet the updated requirements.

The Certificate in Advocacy is available for students who have a serious interest in the art, science, and law of advocacy. The recipient of the Certificate in Advocacy has demonstrated a thorough understanding of the litigation process, the ability to produce appropriate legal pleadings and other litigation documents, and the ability to try a case proficiently to a judge or jury. The Certificate is an acknowledgment by the Faculty that the student has successfully completed a focused course of study in advocacy.

Course of Study

Required Courses

• Civil Procedure II (LW 868 - 2 hours) or Criminal Procedure II (LW 839 - 3 hours)
• Trial Advocacy (LW 766 - 2 hours)
• Pretrial Advocacy-Civil (LW 765 - 3 hours) or Pretrial Advocacy-Criminal (LW 768 - 3 hours)

Optional Courses

8 hours selected from any of the following "Elective Classes:"

• Administrative Law (LW 780 - 3 hours)
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (LW 753 - 3 hours)
• Appellate Practice (LW 767 - 2 hours)
• Arbitration (LW 854 - 2 hours)
• Child Advocacy Training (LW 913 - 1-2 hours)
• Civil Procedure II (LW 868 - 3 hours)
• Civil Rights Litigation (LW 760 - 2 hours)
• Constitutional Litigation Seminar (LW 748 - 3 hours)
• Criminal Appeal Advocacy (LW 903 - 3 hours)
• Criminal Appeal Advocacy: Advanced Topics (LW 903D - 1-2 hours)
• Criminal Procedure II (LW 839 - 3 hours)
• Directed Research (LW 763 - 1-3 hours)
• Directed Study in Complex Litigation (LW 864 - 2 hours)
• E-Discovery (LW 984 - 2 hours)
• Externship I (with approval of Advocacy Center Director) (LW 921 - 2-4 hours)
• Federal Courts (LW 759 - 3 hours)
• Fundamentals of Oral Argument (LW 859 - 1 hour)
• International Civil Litigation in the United States (LW 989 - 2-3 hours)
• Juvenile Offender (LW 886 - 2 hours)
• Labor Law (LW 783 - 3 hours)
• Negotiation (LW 857 - 2 hours)
• Pretrial Advocacy-Civil (LW 765 - 3 hours)
• Pretrial Advocacy-Criminal (LW 768 - 3 hours)
• Remedies (LW 739 - 3 hours)
• Workers' Compensation (LW 781 - 2 hours)
• Writing for Law Practice (LW 901 - 3 hours)

Plus 4 hours from any of the following "Elective Skills Training" courses:

• Advanced Evidence: Expert Witnesses (LW 737 - 1 hour)
• Advanced Trial Advocacy (LW 724 - 2 hours)
• Client Counseling (LW 825 - 1-2 hours)
• Clinic: Litigation (LW 756 - 4-5 hours)
• Cross Examination Techniques (LW 906 - 1 hour)
• Interviewing and Counseling (LW 914 - 2 hours)
• Jury Selection and Voir Dire (LW 877 - 1 hour)
• Law Practice Technologies (LW 925 - 1 hour)
• Litigation Strategies (LW 912 - 3 hours)
• Mediation (LW 817 - 2 hours)
• Moot Court (LW 762 - 1-2 hours)
• Negotiation Competition (LW 777 - 1-2 hours)
• Taking and Defending Depositions (LW 907 - 1 hour)
• Tax Clinic: Low Income Taxpayer (LW 791 - 1-3 hours)
• Trial Advocacy Competition (LW 805 - 1-2 hours)
• White Collar Crime (LW 936 - 2-3 hours)

Service Requirements

1. Complete 10 hours of pre-approved pro bono activities which involve advocacy skills.
2. Complete 18 hours of pre-approved Advocacy Center activities.
3. Complete and submit the Advocacy Certificate Service Form (12 KB PDF) within one month of completing any service hours.

Lawyering Experience Requirement

Students earning an Advocacy Certificate must complete a lawyering experience consisting of either Clinic Internship/Litigation, Criminal Appeal Advocacy, or an externship that involves a lawyering experience in an advocacy placement. The Advocacy Certificate administrator, working with the externship coordinator, will determine whether an externship meets the necessary criteria.

General Requirements

Any student interested in pursuing a Certificate in Advocacy must first meet with a faculty member administering the certificate (Professor Joseph Mastrosimone) to declare their interest and plan their course of study. This must be done prior to completing 40 hours of study. Following the meeting the faculty member and student will complete the "Meeting Summary" (27 KB PDF). This faculty member will also serve as the student's Certificate advisor and will approve any waivers or alternative courses allowed or required by the course of study.

The student must complete 90 hours of total law school credit and achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in courses used to satisfy their Certificate requirements.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this Certificate, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the different skills needed for effective client advocacy, including alternatives to litigation, pretrial advocacy and trial advocacy.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the different stages of advocacy from initial consultation to final outcome and how each of these stages is connected to the others.
3. Understand the ethical responsibilities that are involved in advocating for clients.
4. Competently represent clients at each stage of advocacy in the student’s chosen area or areas of law.

Note: Students who declared their intent to pursue a Certificate prior to June 1, 2021, and who obtained a minimum grade point average of 3.5 for courses used to satisfy their Certificate requirements, will be awarded the Certificate in Advocacy (with distinction).

Approved by the faculty: May 2005
Effective: January 2006
Updated: November 15, 2022.