Beginning this spring, first-year students in Southwestern Law School’s Legal Analysis, Writing and Skills (LAWS) program will receive specialized advocacy training in their choice of appellate advocacy, negotiation or trial practice.
“Our LAWS course has always focused on providing students with a strong foundation in the basic skills of legal practice,” said Professor Tracy Turner, Director of the LAWS program. “However, until now, we have not had the opportunity to introduce first-year students to negotiation and trial skills.
In the Appellate Advocacy track, students handle an appeal of a hypothetical legal case, conducting legal research, drafting an appellate court brief and presenting oral arguments. The Trial Practice track emphasizes the work of a trial attorney, with students mastering multiple tasks involved in pre-trial and trial stages of litigation in a hypothetical legal case. The Negotiation track applies the skills of legal research, writing, advocacy and client counseling through negotiation exercises that include meeting with clients, drafting a trial court motion, and participating in simulated contractual negotiations.
The three-track program includes a fall semester LAWS course designed to prepare students for the real-world demands of law practice, including issues of professionalism; development of broad-based analytical, research and writing skills; and concentrated instruction in the basics of legal methods, legal reasoning and legal processes.
“Southwestern’s unique three-track system will enable first-year students not only to enhance practical skills that fit their career ambitions, but also to get a head start toward honing those skills further through hands-on training and competition,” said Dean Bryant Garth.
