Crafting an opening statement. Studying the evidence. Delivering oral arguments. Perfecting these skills (and many more) can transform an attorney into a great advocate. The Masters of Laws (LLM) in Trial Advocacy, Appellate Advocacy, and Alternative Dispute Resolution degree program is designed for practicing attorneys refocusing their careers toward litigation or dispute resolution as well as recent graduates who wish to sharpen the skills developed in a JD or equivalent degree program.

Your coursework combines lectures, faculty demonstrations, and student presentations. And you'll gain invaluable experience through simulated depositions, jury trials, oral arguments, arbitrations, and mediations. All three areas of dispute resolution will be covered.

KNOWLEDGE

You will possess advanced knowledge of procedural and evidentiary rules as applied in a litigation setting. You will also gain an in-depth practical understanding of how to conduct a trial and argue an appeal. You will become proficient in various forms of dispute resolution techniques and be able to determine when these types of methods are most appropriately used throughout the litigation process.

SKILLS

• You will be able to:
• Try a complex case before a court of law in a bench trial and jury trial setting;
• Engage in critical case analysis that leads to the development of a persuasive theory of the case;
• Conduct challenging witness examinations that adhere to the rules of evidence for direct and cross examination of lay and expert witnesses;
• Develop a communication style that results in the delivery of persuasive opening statements and closing arguments;
• Lay the foundation for admissibility for all forms of evidence, including electronic, and make and respond to evidentiary objections;
• Analyze and compose a substantial written work of advocacy, including motions, briefs, position papers and research papers in a complex litigation, appellate setting;
• Draft, present, and defend a persuasive written advocacy document in the context of complex litigation at the appellate court setting;
• Build upon the fundamentals of mediation, negotiation, arbitration and other dispute resolution venues and assess the dispute resolution process appropriate to the situation; and
• Assist clients in achieving goals in any dispute resolution setting by analyzing party interests and crafting and designing creative solutions in a mediation or settlement negotiation or employ oral and written advocacy skills in an arbitration setting.

PROFESSIONAL VALUES

You will be able to ethically counsel clients in all stages of litigation and dispute resolution, including:

• Identify, analyze, and address issues of professional and ethical responsibility as applied in litigation, appellate, and dispute resolution settings;
• Ethically counsel clients and persuasively present clients' interests in a litigation setting;
• Ethically and persuasively present a substantial written work of advocacy in an appellate court venue; and
• Ethically and competently practice the skills of problem solving, collaboration, counseling and negotiation.