Penn State Law in University Park’s Trial Advocacy program annually enrolls between 50 and 60 students. It is run by Professor of Practice Christopher C. French with the assistance of 20 local judges and lawyers. The program culminates each fall with full mock trials conducted before judges with juries pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and the Federal Rules of Evidence. The Trial Advocacy program builds upon our first-year program’s 1L Mock Trial Competition. Penn State Law sends mock trial teams each year to the National Trial Competition, Academy of Trial Lawyers Mock Trial Competition, and NBLSA Constance Baker Mock Trial Competition. The past two years, Penn State Law’s NBLSA team has made it to the National Finals (limited to the top 18 teams in the country) with a Penn State Law student winning the best advocate title in the Mid-Atlantic Regional both years. The past two years, Penn State Law's team in the Academy of Trial Lawyers Mock Trial Competition finished first runner-up in the competition, and all of Penn State Law's teams in the National Trial Competition have made it to the semi-finals of the regional. In addition, Penn State Law students compete in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot. In 2019, Penn State Law’s team won the world championship after competing with 372 teams around the world. This newsletter provides an overview of our pilot advocacy and litigation concentration program, our students’ win at the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, and other opportunities to gain trial advocacy skills at Penn State Law through our clinics. Pilot Advocacy and Litigation Concentration Program for the Class of 2020 The Penn State Law faculty has approved this program for current third-year J.D. students and current LL.M. students graduating spring 2020. Students may earn concentration recognition in Advocacy and Litigation using courses from the selected courses section below. J.D. students must earn a minimum of 12 credits and LL.M. students a minimum of 9 credits. Selected Courses:
Penn State Law in University Park Wins 2019 Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot We are thrilled to announce that the Penn State Law in University Park team, comprised of both JDs and LLMs, won the 2019 Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot competition in Vienna, Austria. In addition, Alice Gyamfi won honorable mention for best oralist. This is an extraordinary accomplishment. Our team competed with 372 teams around the world, including from many top U.S. law schools. They were the first U.S. team since 2004 to reach the finals, which they won against Ottawa. Read the full story here. Penn State Law in University Park’s 9 in-house clinics and 1 practicum develop our student’s trial advocacy skills Students develop their trial advocacy and other legal skills in Penn State Law’s legal clinics and practicum. As highlighted in the news below, Penn State students have argued before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and submitted briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court. Under the guidance of clinical faculty, second- and third-year students earn academic credit while engaging in all aspects of the legal process, from legislative advocacy to client representation. Corresponding skills training courses give students a knowledge base on which to build their professional experiences. Penn State Law students can choose from the following clinical programs:
In the News: Penn State Law Students Co-Author Brief in Supreme Court Racial Discrimination Case Penn State Law Civil Rights Appellate Clinic Wins Client’s Right to Her Day in Court Penn State Law Civil Rights Appellate Clinic On the Winning Side of Supreme Court Decision Penn State Law Immigrants’ Rights Clinic Releases Report in Detained Immigrants’ Access to Counsel in Pennsylvania Penn State Law Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic Sees Successful Year, Gracious Clients Penn State Law Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic Wins Disability, Large Back Pay Awards for Pennsylvania, New Jersey Veterans Other highlights: Penn State Law Family Law Clinic
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