BEASLEY SCHOOL OF LAW

About the Certificate

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.

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 0460Trial Advocacy I (Fall)2
JUDO 0461Trial Advocacy II (Spring)3
JUDO 0517Civil Procedure II (Spring)2-3
JUDO 0540Evidence (Fall)3
Total Credit Hours10-11

Third-Year Day / Fourth-Year Evening

LLM Litigation Strategy Lectures0
All students select courses from Menu A, Menu B, and Clinical, as shown on their Certificate Registration form: 19-12
Menu A 2
Pennsylvania Civil Procedure
Appellate Advocacy
Appellate Advocacy
Criminal Procedure II
Criminal Procedure II
Interviewing, Negotiating and Counseling
Advanced Trial Advocacy (Criminal)
Advanced Trial Advocacy (Civil)
Mediation Advocacy & Practice
Advanced Trial Advocacy (Speech Making)
Public Advocacy for Social Change
Complex Civil Litigation
Intrnl Litgtn & Arbitrtn
Anatomy for Litigators
LRW III: Civil Motions Practice
Innocence and Wrongful Convictions
Legal Research and Writing III: Experts in Civil Litigation
Mindful Lawyering: Techniques for Effective Counseling, Negotiation and Advocacy
Mindful Lawyering: Techniques for Effective Counseling, Negotiation and Advocacy
Commercial Arbitration Law and Procedure
Social Justice Lawyering Seminar
Moot Court: one year's participation
Trial Team: one year's participation
Menu B 2
Envrnmntl Lit/Superfund
Patent Prosecution
Media and Telecommunications Law
Conflict of Laws
Employment Discrimination
Federal Courts and Jurisdiction
Juvenile Justice
Political and Civil Rights
Political and Civil Rights
Political and Civil Rights
Health Care Law: Medical Malpractice
Health Care Law: Medical Malpractice
Employment Law
Federal Criminal Law
International Criminal Law
E-Discovery: Preservation through Presentation in the Digital Age
Supreme Ct/Current Term
Citznshp Immgrtn Refugee
Death Penalty
Access to Justice in Civil Matters
Forensic Evidence, Science, and Medicine
Families in Law and Public Policy
ICC Moot Court
Legal Research Writing III: Legal Drafting Seminar
Drug and Medical Device Law
Health Care Fraud: Investigation, Prosecution, and Compliance
Drug Law Policy and Practice: Marijuana Regulation
Crim Tax Litigatn/Procdr
Clinical 3
Tort Litigation and Trial Practice (SEPTA)
Temple Legal Aid Office: Family Law Litigation Clinic
Small Claims Mediation
Criminal Defense Advocacy: Defender Association of Philadelphia
Federal Criminal Practice: Federal Defender
Criminal Prosecution: Philadelphia District Attorney
Federal Criminal Practice: United States Attorney
Federal Judicial Clerkship
Elderly Law Project
Philadelphia Housing Court
City Solicitor: Claims Litigation
Temple Legal Aid Office: Domestic Relations Mediation
Philadelphia District Attorney: Charging Unit
Ethics in Practice 4
Pennsylvania Innocence Project
Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project
State Judicial Clerkship
Temple Legal Aid Office: Advanced Family Law Litigation Clinic 5
Social Justice Lawyering Clinic
Access to Justice Clinic
Advanced Clinical Intensive: Community Lawyering Temple Legal Aid Office 5
Total Credit Hours9-12
1

Day students take two courses from Menu A, one course from Menu B, and one clinical from the approved list. Evening students take two courses from Menu A and two courses from Menu B if unable to take an approved clinical.

2

Any course in Menu A may count as a Menu B course, but no Menu B course may count as a Menu A course.

3

Day students select one clinical. In addition, a second clinical may be substituted for their Menu B course.

4

JUDO 0751 or a practicum may only count toward the clinical requirement with prior approval from the Director of Trial Advocacy.

5

Advanced work in the Temple Legal Aid Office for either the Family Law Clinic or the Community Lawyering Office can only count toward the clinical requirement with prior approval from the Director of Trial Advocacy.

GPA Required to be Awarded the Certificate: 3.0 minimum in advocacy coursework, with a 2.5 minimum overall

Culminating Events: Beyond coursework, all students are required to fulfill two additional obligations to earn the Trial Advocacy and Litigation certificate:

  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. In-person attendance is required. Lectures are generally held in Room 1C from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. 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

If a class conflict prevents a student from attending in person, the lecture may be viewed on Canvas but only with advance permission from the Director of Trial Advocacy. Lecture dates are subject to change, depending on the needs of the LLM program. Changes are announced on Canvas as soon as the need for a change is determined.

Contacts

Certificate Program Web Address:

https://law.temple.edu/academics/degrees/jd/certificates/litigation/

Submission Address for Application Materials:

Eligible students will receive an application link in March of each year.

Department Contacts:

Director of Trial Advocacy:

Elizabeth Lippy

Practice Professor of Law

elippy@temple.edu

215-204-0661