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.

Curriculum

Beginning each fall, you can complete the program in just one year on a full-time basis or in two years on a part-time basis. Courses are offered exclusively on campus.

Courses

You must complete a total of 24 credits hours. The list of elective courses is updated frequently. Consult the current schedule of courses for most current course offerings.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses
LAW 293	Advanced Writing for Legal Practice	1-3
LAW 311	Advanced Evidence	2
LAW 518	Advanced Mediation and Courthouse Practicum	1-3
LAW 844	Advanced Trial Practice	3
Electives		14-16
LAW 130	Transactional Skills Seminar
LAW 137	International Arbitration: Public and Private
LAW 166	Education Law Practicum
LAW 179	The Law of Jury Selection
LAW 184	Advanced Litigation Skills
LAW 202	Human Trafficking Seminar
LAW 246	Advanced Mediation Advocacy Practicum
LAW 252	Personal Injury Law and Advocacy
LAW 277	Intellectual Property Litigation
LAW 287	Separation of Powers
LAW 290	Advanced Legal Research
LAW 293	Advanced Writing for Legal Practice
LAW 301	Police Accountability
LAW 313	Illinois Civil Litigation Practice
LAW 325	Conflict of Laws
LAW 330	Remedies
LAW 329	Access to Justice Practicum
LAW 356	Storytelling and Presentation Skills for Lawyers
LAW 376	Student Initiated Capstone Project I
LAW 404	Client Counseling
LAW 406	Mediation Advocacy
LAW 411	Trial Practice I
LAW 412	Trial Practice II
LAW 418	Pre-Trial Litigation
LAW 422	Federal Litigation Practice
LAW 426	Special Education Law and Advocacy
LAW 435	Deposition Advocacy Workshop
LAW 449	Negotiations Seminar
LAW 456	Mediation Seminar
LAW 473	Class Actions
LAW 483	Federal Tax Clinic I
LAW 486	Federal Tax Clinic II
LAW 501	Collaborative Law Workshop
LAW 506	Patent Prosecution Seminar
LAW 509	Federal Courts
LAW 511	London Comparative Advocacy Prgrm
LAW 517	Advanced Legal Writing: Responsible Email and Letter Drafting
LAW 527	International Arbitration Oral Advocacy
LAW 551	Electronic Discovery and Problem Solving
LAW 554	Family Law Practicum
LAW 556	Alternative Dispute Resolution
LAW 572	Special Education Dispute Resolution
LAW 573	Terrorism Prosecutions: Civil Rights & Executive Power in Theory and Practice
LAW 587	Arbitration Workshop
LAW 595	Community LawCtr Clinic I
LAW 596	Community Law Center Clinic II
LAW 602	ChildLaw Trial Practice (Intensive)
LAW 606	Legislation and Policy Clinic
LAW 615	Child and Family Law Mediation
LAW 620	Childlaw Clinic
LAW 625	Mediation Workshop
LAW 729	Health Care Litigation and Medical Malpractice
LAW 730	Health Justice Policy Practicum
LAW 755	Health Justice Project
LAW 757	Advanced Health Justice Project
LAW 769	Health Justice Advocacy
LAW 825	Business Law Center Clinical & Seminar
LAW 828	LLM Externship Field Placement
LAW 841	Intntl Commercial Arbitration & the CISG

Degree Requirements

To earn an LLM in Trial Advocacy, Appellate Advocacy, and Alternative Dispute Resolution, you must complete 24 credits of course work. Visit our Registrar for a complete list of degree requirements, academic calendars, and registration process. You may access full course descriptions through our student information system through guest access.

Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations

Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supercede school policies.

Learning Outcomes

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.