Trial Advocacy

About the Trial Advocacy Program

The Trial Advocacy program provides comprehensive training in the strategies and techniques required to be a successful trial lawyer. Through courses, clinical opportunities and a strong internal and national competition program, students gain the skills to persuasively advocate for their clients.

Courses

UW Law offers a variety of courses aimed at preparing students to work in trial advocacy. Designed by seasoned attorneys, our comprehensive program equips students with the skills, strategies and confidence needed to excel in the courtroom.

• LAW B 518 Appellate Advocacy
• LAW A 502 Civil Procedure I
• LAW B 500 Civil Procedure II
• LAW B 515 Criminal Procedure: Investigation
• LAW E 516 Criminal Procedure: Adjudication
• LAW B 503 Evidence
• LAW B 507 Federal Courts and the Federal System
• LAW B 548 Forensics
• LAW E 508 Persuasive Writing
• LAW B 519 Pre-Trial Practice
• LAW B 520 Trial Advocacy I
• LAW B 521 Trial Advocacy II

Clinics

Designed and run by fulltime faculty who are experienced attorneys, our comprehensive Clinic program provides students with real-world legal experience assisting clients and communities.

• Civil Rights & Justice Clinic
• Federal Tax Clinic
• Ninth Circuit Pro Bono Appellate Advocacy Clinic
• Tools for Social Change: Race & Justice Clinic
• Tribal Court Clinic

Competitions

The Moot Court Honor Board (MCHB) provides students with a variety of advocacy skills through brief-writing and competition opportunities.

• In-house competitions are available to all students and give them the opportunity to participate and learn from mock trial, contract negotiation and appellate advocacy competitions.
• Regional/National competition teams are selected through a competitive application process and give students the opportunity to compete against teams from around the country on a focused area of the law.

Details about competitions can be found on the Moot Court Honor Board website.

National Trial Competition

The University of Washington School of Law is honored to host Region 13 of the National Trial Competition on Feb. 6–8, 2026, and we are deeply grateful for the generous support of our sponsors.

Trial Advocacy Award Opportunities

Thanks to generous donors, students have unique opportunities to highlight their advocacy skills and earn award money at the same time.

• Hugh Miracle Opening Statement Competition
  Annual award for the best opening statement made by a student.
• John C. Coughenour Mock Trial Competition
  Annual award for the Best Oral Advocate. 
• James B. McMillan Award
  Annual award given to the student in trial advocacy who shows a commitment to excellence in trial advocacy and the importance of equity in our justice system.
• John D. MacGillivray Award
  Annual award to third year students who demonstrate excellence, leadership, commitment and impact in their coursework and activities related to trial advocacy.
• William L. Dwyer Award
  Annual award to the student in trial advocacy who shows a commitment to excellence in trial advocacy and the importance of the American jury system.

Ways to get involved

Many aspects of the trial advocacy program have opportunities for involvement by our legal community. If you are interested in getting involved, please email trialad@uw.edu.

• Competition Judge
  We hold 3 in-house competitions each year (negotiation, mock trial, appellate advocacy) and look for attorneys and judges in our community to act as judges for the events.
• Competition Coach
  We have several teams that participate in outside competitions, including mock-trial, moot court, ADR and voir dire. We appreciate local practitioners who have time to help the students prepare for their competitions.
• Trial Advocacy award judge
  We have written trial advocacy awards that need assessment of submissions and an opening statement competition that needs judges.