Advocacy Requirements
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.
See the following dates for 1L fall semester jury duty. Sign up for spring semester jury duty through this link.
- Saturday, January 10, 2026 from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Daley Center
- Saturday, January 10, 2026 from 8:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Law School Room 206
- Sunday, April 12, 2026, 2026 from 2 p.m. to 6:10 p.m. on campus
- Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Daley Center
- Thursday, April 23, 2026 from 5:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Daley Center
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 Event
- Intraschool Moot Court Competition
Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 5pm to 7pm
Saturday, March 28, 2026, 10am to 1pm
Bailiffs Needed
Sign up here
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.