Program Overview

Introduction to the Juris Doctor Certificate: Trial Advocacy and Litigation

The Juris Doctor certificate in Trial Advocacy and Litigation is designed for students who want to focus their studies on the art and science of trial advocacy. At Beasley School of Law, JD students gain the skills and experience to be ready for the courtroom upon completion of their studies. While pursuing their JD degree, students in the Trial Advocacy and Litigation certificate program take a minimum of eight law courses, receiving a notation on their transcript upon successful completion.

Program Details

• Time Limit for Certificate Completion: 4 years
• Campus Location: Main
• Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The certificate program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis.
• Non-Matriculated Student Policy: The certificate may not be taken on a non-matriculated basis.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

• Application Deadline: Eligible students will receive an application link in March of each year.
• Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: Applicants must be pursuing the Juris Doctor degree.
• Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: Not required.
• Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: Not required.

Certificate Requirements

• Number of Credits Required to Complete the Certificate: 19-23, depending on the student's choice of eight required courses
• Required Courses:
  • Second-Year Day / Third-Year Evening:
    • Integrated Trial Advocacy Program (ITAP) Courses
      • JUDO 0460: Trial Advocacy I (Fall) - 2 credits
      • JUDO 0461: Trial Advocacy II (Spring) - 3 credits
      • JUDO 0517: Civil Procedure II (Spring) - 2-3 credits
      • JUDO 0540: Evidence (Fall) - 3 credits
  • Third-Year Day / Fourth-Year Evening:
    • All students select courses from Menu A, Menu B, and Clinical, as shown on their Certificate Registration form.
    • Menu A:
      • JUDO 0428: Pennsylvania Civil Procedure
      • JUDO 0479: Appellate Advocacy
      • JUDO 0505: Criminal Procedure II
      • JUDO 0557: Interviewing, Negotiating and Counseling
      • JUDO 0565: Advanced Trial Advocacy (Criminal)
      • JUDO 0569: Advanced Trial Advocacy (Civil)
      • JUDO 0655: Mediation Advocacy & Practice
      • JUDO 0669: Advanced Trial Advocacy (Speech Making)
      • JUDO 0681: Public Advocacy for Social Change
      • JUDO 0883: Complex Civil Litigation
      • JUDO 0928: International Litigation & Arbitration
      • JUDO 0999: Anatomy for Litigators
      • JUDO 1015: LRW III: Civil Motions Practice
      • JUDO 1027: Innocence and Wrongful Convictions
      • JUDO 1042: Legal Research and Writing III: Experts in Civil Litigation
      • JUDO 1053: Mindful Lawyering: Techniques for Effective Counseling, Negotiation and Advocacy
    • Menu B:
      • JUDO 0450: Environmental Litigation/Superfund
      • JUDO 0471: Patent Prosecution
      • JUDO 0515: Media and Telecommunications Law
      • JUDO 0522: Conflict of Laws
      • JUDO 0537: Employment Discrimination
      • JUDO 0542: Federal Courts and Jurisdiction
      • JUDO 0560: Juvenile Justice
      • JUDO 0578: Political and Civil Rights
    • Clinical:
      • JUDO 0700: Tort Litigation and Trial Practice (SEPTA)
      • JUDO 0704: Temple Legal Aid Office: Family Law Litigation Clinic
      • JUDO 0713: Small Claims Mediation
      • JUDO 0716: Criminal Defense Advocacy: Defender Association of Philadelphia
      • JUDO 0717: Federal Criminal Practice: Federal Defender
      • JUDO 0720: Criminal Prosecution: Philadelphia District Attorney
      • JUDO 0724: Federal Criminal Practice: United States Attorney
      • JUDO 0726: Federal Judicial Clerkship
      • JUDO 0730: Elderly Law Project
      • JUDO 0731: Philadelphia Housing Court
      • JUDO 0735: City Solicitor: Claims Litigation
      • JUDO 0738: Temple Legal Aid Office: Domestic Relations Mediation
      • JUDO 0741: Philadelphia District Attorney: Charging Unit
      • JUDO 0751: Ethics in Practice
      • JUDO 0752: Pennsylvania Innocence Project
      • JUDO 0753: Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project
      • JUDO 0756: State Judicial Clerkship
      • JUDO 0776: Temple Legal Aid Office: Advanced Family Law Litigation Clinic
      • JUDO 0781: Social Justice Lawyering Clinic
      • JUDO 0790: Access to Justice Clinic
      • JUDO 0795: Advanced Clinical Intensive: Community Lawyering Temple Legal Aid Office

GPA and Culminating Events Requirements

• GPA Required to be Awarded the Certificate: 3.0 minimum in advocacy coursework, with a 2.5 minimum overall
• Culminating Events:
  1. Serve as either a Teaching Assistant for the Integrated Trial Advocacy Program (ITAP), Introduction to Trial Advocacy (ITA), or Advanced Trial Advocacy (ATA); a witness for the LLM program's weekend trials; or a witness at the Regional Championship of the National Trial Competition hosted by Temple each February.
  2. Complete the LLM lecture series, which requires attendance at five lectures. Lecture topics include:
  • Advanced Experts
  • Damages: Depositions
  • Damages: Experts
  • Depositions II
  • eDiscovery and Litigation
  • Expert Witnesses
  • Persuasion: Lawyer Likability and Civility
  • Persuasive Pleadings
  • Psychology and Persuasion
  • Science Series: Accident Reconstruction
  • Science Series: Neuroscience and the Law
  • Trial Technology
  • Voir Dire and Jury Selection
  • Witness Preparation
  • Witnesses and Storytelling