In trial advocacy training, law students develop practical skills to complement the theoretical knowledge covered in other law-school classes. Lawyers with litigation practices in both civil law and criminal law must eventually appear in court as part of their work. Accordingly, litigation attorneys must develop public speaking and debate skills. They must also learn and follow procedure laws and evidentiary rules. If law schools can train their students in trial advocacy before their students become licensed attorneys, clients will receive better representation and the lawyers themselves will have stronger skill sets at earlier points in their careers.
The "U.S. News and World Report," which annually publishes overall rankings of the accredited law schools in the United States, also compiles a ranking of law schools based on strength in trial advocacy. In 2010, the top three trial advocacy law schools included Stetson University in Florida, Temple University in Pennsylvania and South Texas College of Law. Law schools such as Stetson, Temple or South Texas do not necessarily place at the top of the overall rankings with law schools such as Yale or Harvard, but they enjoy a strong reputation for trial advocacy.
Trial advocacy coursework includes training in opening and closing arguments, handling evidence and exhibits, questioning and cross-examining witnesses, impeaching witnesses and following through to the end of a case. Law schools with strong trial advocacy programs devote a series of courses to the training. For example, Temple University, which placed in the top three of trial advocacy programs nationwide, according to "U.S. News and World Report," offers trial advocacy classes of increasing difficulty, from beginner to advanced. Programs might also encourage complementary schedules, such as enrollment in an evidence law course while also learning how to handle evidence in trial advocacy training.
Law schools with highly-ranked trial advocacy programs often have students who win at regional or national trial advocacy competitions. Trial advocacy competitions allow teams of law students to compete against each other in oral arguments as well as legal-brief writing. Competitions may cover a single area of law, such as employment law or criminal law, or focus on general ability in trial advocacy. Law students who are interested in becoming trial attorneys or practicing in litigation may wish to consider trial advocacy competitions as a way to gain experience and enhance their resume credentials.