Trial Advocacy Certificate

To earn a Trial Advocacy Certificate, a student must:

• Complete the core and elective requirements for a total of 9 units (minimum).
• Complete a practicum requirement related to trial advocacy.

Required Courses

Students must complete at least one course from the list below:

• Intensive Advocacy Program (3 units)
• Trial Practice: Civil Litigation (3 units)
• Trial Practice: Criminal Law (3 units)

Students must complete at least one course from the list below:

• Applied Evidence (3 units)
• CA Civil Discovery (2 units)

Elective Courses

The following law school electives can be applied to the certificate. Not all law school electives are offered every year. Any remaining units (to reach a minimum of 9) must be completed from the approved courses listed below.

• Advanced Legal Writing: Federal Civil Pre-Trial Motion Practice (3 units)
• Mediation (3 units)
• Negotiation (3 units)
• Intellectual Property Litigation Skills (2 units)
• Trial Advocacy & the Ethical Prosecutor (3 units)

Practicum Requirement

To earn a Trial Advocacy Certificate, a student must participate in an experiential learning activity that implements advocacy skills. Students may fulfill this practicum requirement in one of the following ways

• Externship: Participate in an externship or paid legal work focused on civil or criminal trial advocacy for the equivalent of three units.
• Trial Team: Compete on a mock trial team.
• Racial Justice Clinic: Participate in the Racial Justice Clinic with permission of Director.

Application

Students may apply during their second-to-last semester of law school. The Trial Advocacy Certificate will become available beginning fall 2025.