Law 694:  Trial Team

Trial Team is a graded experiential trial advocacy course conducted in the fall (two hours) and spring (two hours) semesters for a total of four credit hours. Enrollment is by audition only. Per ABA Standard 310, in order to earn two credit hours per semester, each student must account for 90 hours of time. Eligibility for the Trial Team requires the prerequisites or co-requisites of two College of Law courses: Trial Advocacy (694) and Evidence (682).

 Students who accept the invitation to join Trial Team will undergo rigorous training with a practitioner coach and periodic bonus critiques from College of Law faculty, Illinois alumni, and additional seasoned practicing attorney volunteers as competition weekends approach.  Students enrolled in the course will also be required to attend a one-hour weekly classroom session taught by College of Law faculty.   The Anderson Center for Advocacy and Professionalism will also provide additional workshops and programs to help with overall development as well as individual optimization.

 Trial Team competitions provide hands-on experiential training for future lawyers. It also offers student development in prevailing over practical challenges that lawyers typically face in a modern legal practice. In addition to polishing their basic advocacy skills, team members learn to analyze and master a case file, navigate a courtroom environment, neutralize hostile or aggressive witnesses, and effectively employ the laws of evidence.

 Each Trial Team participates in two interscholastic tournaments each academic year at both the national and regional level. Trial Team members try at least one case during each semester of membership and, in doing so, they transfer knowledge gained in the classroom domain into firsthand practical experiences in the courtroom. Moreover, members have exceptional opportunities at trial advocacy tournaments to make valuable networking connections within the legal community with sitting judges, practicing attorneys, and peers from law schools across the country.

 Students are selected for the Trial Team through an audition process which is traditionally held in mid-April.

Course Sequence/Corequisite/Prerequisites:  Trial Advocacy (694) and Evidence (682) must have been taken prior or must be enrolled in both courses in the same semester as Trial Team.

Evaluation:  Trial Team is a two-hour graded course.  Grades will be based on participation and assignments in the one hour weekly classroom component, as well as based on participation, professionalism, and performance in external trial competitions.

Course Classification:  Experiential