The law school’s Advocacy Programs provide practice-oriented advocacy training focused on the skills necessary for success in every phase of litigation. Every student receives basic advocacy training beginning with their legal research and writing classes. Our legal writing program offers every student invaluable training in the art of legal writing. An upper-level skills course is required where students can hone their oral and written advocacy skills. These courses include the following:
- Pre-trial practice
- Trial practice
- Appellate practice
- Interviewing and client counseling
- Arbitration
- Mediation
Competitions
The law school hosts three intra-school competitions annually. In August we have the J. Greg Allen Intra-School Mock Trial Competition. This competition is for any third year law student who has completed in trial advocacy class. This tournament is a great opportunity for students to showcase their advocacy skills before local attorneys and judges who serve as guest judges for the competition.
In January we have a Closing Argument Competition. This competition is open to all first-year students requiring them to prepare a closing argument for a given fact pattern. This competition takes place the weekend before school starts back for the fall.
In April, we have a First-Year Moot Court Competition. This is culmination of the legal writing program and provides an opportunity to argue in the Alabama Supreme Court.
Besides the three intra-school competitions the law school is committed to a continuing national reputation for excellence in interscholastic student advocacy competitions. Each year the law school participates on numerous mediation, moot court and trial advocacy competitions. Our teams have competed and won all over the country traveling to places such as Atlanta, Chicago, San Antonio, Dallas, St. Louis, New York, Raleigh, Nashville, Washington, D.C., Austin, Miami, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.