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Advocacy Requirements

Students participating in mock trial

All first year law students are required to attend two advocacy events, one based in trial advocacy and one based in appellate advocacy, to expose them to various aspects of the litigation process and prepare them for upper level courses.

Please note: In the event you have yet to complete both portions of the requirements by the end of the academic year, your class rank will be withheld at that time until both portions of the requirements are satisfied. Weekend JD students have two years to complete these requirements.

Requirement 1 of 2: Trial Advocacy Event

Each 1L student must fulfill the 1L Trial Advocacy Requirement by serving as a juror at one of the final trials of the upperclassmen in a Trial Practice course or as a bailiff/timekeeper for a pre-approved mock trial competition.

Through either experience, first year students are given an opportunity to observe a full-length trial. Jurors have the added opportunity to render a verdict. There are several dates each year students may complete this requirement. 

Please note: There are limits to how many students may sign up for each day, and all students are required to complete this activity, so please sign up for a date as soon as possible. 

. Additional opportunities will be posted for sign-up as they become available.

Requirement 2 of 2: Appellate Advocacy Event

Each 1L student must fulfill the 1L Appellate Advocacy Requirement by serving as a bailiff/timekeeper or otherwise observing one round of an appellate argument at a pre-approved moot court (appellate) competition.

This allows first year students to observe the appellate process. There are several dates each year students may complete this requirement.

Please note: There are limits to how many students may sign up for each day, and all students are required to complete this activity, so please sign up for a date as soon as possible. 

Appellate Advocacy Events

2024-2025 National Moot Court Competition - Region 10

Saturday, November 23, 2024
ºÚÁÏÃÅUniversity Chicago School of Law, Corboy Law Center

Sunday, November 24, 2024
ºÚÁÏÃÅUniversity Chicago School of Law, Corboy Law Center

*Serving as a bailiff/timekeeper for any round of this moot court competition will fulfill the appellate portion of the advocacy requirements.

2025 Intraschool Moot Court Competition

Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Daley Center
5:30pm-8:00pm

Saturday, February 22, 2025
ºÚÁÏÃÅUniversity Chicago School of Law, Corboy Law Center
9:30am-12:00pm

Saturday, February 22, 2025
ºÚÁÏÃÅUniversity Chicago School of Law, Corboy Law Center
12:15pm-1:45pm
 

*Serving as a bailiff/timekeeper for any round of this moot court competition OR observing the Final Round of this competition will fulfill the appellate portion of the advocacy requirements. 

Weekend JD Students - Additional information and Options

Weekend JD students have 2 years to complete 1L Advocacy Requirements. 

In addition to the options that are offered to all full-time 1L students, Weekend JD students may also:

Fulfill the trial portion of their 1L Advocacy Requirements by either 1) serving as a juror at one of the final trials of the upperclassmen in a Summer Trial Practice course or 2) observing one of the approved practices for a ºÚÁÏÃÅMock Trial Team.

Fulfill the appellate portion of their 1L Advocacy Requirements by observing one of the approved practices of a ºÚÁÏÃÅMoot Court Team.

Weekend JD Student-Only Trial Advocacy and Appellate Advocacy Events are typically offered in the spring semester. Opportunities will be posted for sign-up as they become available.

Trial Portion:
Saturday, March 15, 2025
at Loyola, Room 1040 (Courtroom)
12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
.


Appellate Portion:
Sunday, March 16, 2025
at Loyola, Room 1040 (Courtroom)
2:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
.

 

All first year law students are required to attend two advocacy events, one based in trial advocacy and one based in appellate advocacy, to expose them to various aspects of the litigation process and prepare them for upper level courses.

Please note: In the event you have yet to complete both portions of the requirements by the end of the academic year, your class rank will be withheld at that time until both portions of the requirements are satisfied. Weekend JD students have two years to complete these requirements.