Courses

Washburn Law's advocacy program trains students to make persuasive trial presentations and develop winning case strategies using traditional courtroom techniques and new courtroom technologies.

The curriculum in advocacy training continues to evolve at the Summer Trial Academy. Courses in trial techniques are packaged in “weekend modules” and focus on specific skills such as cross-examination and deposition practice skills. The skills curriculum also includes legal drafting courses, other simulation courses and strong clinic and externship programs.

The Center seeks to prepare students for careers in: Civil Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Law, Local Government Law, Appellate Practice, Administrative Law, Municipal Law Practice, and Personal Injury Law.

Advocacy courses fall within two general categories:

  • Core Courses
  • Advanced/Elective Courses

NOTE: Not all of the following courses fulfill the requirements for the Certificate in Advocacy.

Core Courses

  • Civil Procedure II (LW 868 - 3 hours) or Criminal Procedure II (LW 839 - 3 hours)
  • Trial Advocacy (LW 766 - 2 hours)
  • Pretrial Advocacy-Civil (LW 765 - 2 hours; 3 hours effective Fall 2010) or Pretrial Advocacy-Criminal (LW 768 - 2 hours; 3 hours effective Fall 2010)

Advanced/Elective Courses

Course identified by '[skills]' focus on skills training.

  • Advanced Trial Advocacy (LW 724 - 2 hours) [skills]
  • Appellate Practice (LW 767 - 2 hours)
  • Capital Punishment Seminar (LW 822 - 2 hours)
  • Child Advocacy Training (LW 913 - 1 hour)
  • Civil Procedure II (LW 868 - 3 hours)
  • Client Counseling (LW 825 - 1 hour) [skills]
  • Clinic Internship (LW 756 - 4-5 hours) [skills]
  • Complex Litigation (LW 864 - 2-3 hours)
  • Constitutional Litigation Seminar (LW 748 - 2-3 hours)
  • Criminal Appeal Advocacy (LW 903 - 3 hours)
  • Criminal Procedure II (LW 839 - 3 hours)
  • Cross Examination Techniques (LW 906 - 1 hour) [skills]
  • Directed Research (LW 763 - 1-3 hours) [skills]
  • Federal Courts (LW 759 - 3 hours)
  • Jury Selection and Voir Dire (LW 877 - 1 hour) [skills]
  • Litigation Strategies (LW 912 - 3 hours) [skills]
  • Law Practice Technologies (LW 925 - 2 hours) [skills]
  • Mediation (LW 817 - 2 hours)
  • Moot Court (LW 762 - 1-2 hours) [skills]
  • Negotiation (LW 857 - 2 hours) [skills]
  • Pretrial Advocacy-Civil (LW 765 - 2 hours; 3 hours effective Fall 2010)
  • Pretrial Advocacy-Criminal (LW 768 - 2 hours; 3 hours effective Fall 2010)
  • Remedies (LW 739 - 3 hours)
  • Taking and Defending Depositions (LW 907 - 1 hour) [skills]
  • Trial Advocacy Competition (LW 805 - 1-2 hours) [skills]
  • Writing for Law Practice (LW 901 - 3 hours)