Trial & Appellate Advocacy Certificate of Concentration
Students who wish to become litigators receive specialized practical training to prepare for careers in litigation, civil and/or criminal trial and appellate work, or dispute resolution. A wide range of courses enables students to learn and demonstrate competencies in writing, appellate and trial advocacy, evidence, trial preparation and conduct, alternative dispute resolution, negotiation, and counseling and representation of clients.
How to Apply
Apply by submitting the online application, which requires that you attach your resume. This application should be submitted at your earliest stages of planning, and in no case may be submitted after the Add/Drop Deadline of your final law school term. The Faculty Director will schedule a meeting with the applicant if required.
Requirements & Curriculum
Students must complete the Core and required Elective Courses listed below. A minimum of 14 total credits is required, in addition to Evidence and GLS III, which are required of all students.
In addition to the one required Elective course from each of the three Elective categories below (Pretrial, ADR, and Capstone), which will total at least six (6) credits, the student may choose courses from any of the four Elective sections to accumulate the 14-credit minimum.
Note that not all courses are offered every year. Students should plan their curriculum with this in mind, checking the Academic Schedule for the coming year and for the year thereafter (see, e.g., the projection of courses for 2020-21 (pdf))1
With prior written approval, the Concentration Director may vary the requirements of the program in individual cases for good cause.
| 14 units minimum required for completion of Concentration (plus GLS III and Evidence) | ||
| CORE COURSES | ||
| LAW 136 | Global Lawyering Skills III | 3 |
| LAW 812 | Trial Advocacy & Evidence Skills (required) | 3 |
| Clinic or Externship with a substantial litigation or ADR focus (advance written approval from the Concentration Director is required). Federal Pretrial/Trial Litigation Seminar, with its associated Clinic, may be used to meet both (a) the Clinic or Externship requirement and (b) either Pretrial Advocacy or Alternative Dispute Resolution. The student must complete both semesters. | 3 | |
| ELECTIVE COURSES - PRETRIAL ADVOCACY (complete at least one course) | ||
| LAW 804 | Criminal Pretrial Litigation | 2 |
| LAW 809 | Civil Pretrial Litigation | 2 |
| LAW 821 | Taking and Defending Depositions | 2 |
| LAW 824 | Written Discovery | 2 |
| LAW 895 | Federal Pretrial/Trial Litigation Seminar | 2 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES - ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (complete one course) | ||
| LAW 308 | Art of Plea Bargaining | 2 |
| LAW 526 | Mediation | 3 |
| LAW 631 | International Negotiations | 2 |
| LAW 689 | International Commercial and Investment Arbitration | 3 |
| LAW 802 | Negotiation and Settlements Seminar | 2 or 3 |
| LAW 826 | Negotiating Disputes Into Deals | 1 |
| LAW 895 | Federal Pretrial/Trial Litigation Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 909 | Prisoner Civil Rights Mediation Clinic (May be used to meet both (a) the Clinic or Externship Requirement and (2) the Alternative Dispute Resolution requirement.) | 3 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES - CAPSTONE (complete at least one) | ||
| LAW 807 | Advanced Appellate Advocacy Seminar (Students must complete two semesters) | 4 |
| LAW 815 | Advanced Trial Advocacy | 3 |
| LAW 969 | Mock Trial Evidence (Students must complete two semesters) | 2 |
| LAW 970 | Mock Trial Team (Students must complete two semesters) | 2 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES - OTHER LITIGATION-RELATED (optional) | ||
| LAW 209 | Local Agency Practice | 2 |
| LAW 400 | Advanced Criminal Procedure | 2 |
| LAW 410 | White Collar Crime | 2 |
| LAW 415 | Criminal Law Defenses | 2 |
| LAW 433 | Employment Law | 3 |
| LAW 635 | Transnational Litigation | 3 |
| LAW 706 | Persuasive Public Speaking | 2 |
| LAW 882 | California Parole Hearings and Litigation | 1 |
| If a student finds a course added or returning to the Schedule that may qualify as an "Other Litigation-Related Elective" (e.g., Federal Courts), the student may apply to the Director for use of that course towards the Concentration requirements. | ||
Questions?
Professor Dan Croxall, Director of the Trial & Appellate Advocacy Certificate of Concentration: dcroxall@pacific.edu | 916.340.6177
