LL.M. in Trial Advocacy

Overview

Chicago-Kent College of Law offers a unique LL.M. program to students interested in pursuing a master's degree in trial advocacy. Chicago-Kent's reputation in trial advocacy—consistently ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News and World Report—as well as its physical location in Chicago provides a distinctive master's degree in trial advocacy in a world-class setting. We invite foreign students with divergent trial practice backgrounds to gain exposure to the U.S. adversarial trial system—a system somewhat similar to newly revised “oral trials” being adopted by many other countries. 

Focusing on persuasive and effective courtroom litigation skills and advocacy, this program is open to full-time international students. The 24-credit-hour course of study includes 17 credit hours of core curriculum with an additional seven credit hours dedicated to a specialized externship. 

Degree Requirements

The 24 credit hours required for this master's program include the courses Trial Advocacy 1, Trial Advocacy 2, Litigation Ethics and Professionalism, Evidence and the Art of Advocacy, Litigation Technology, and Introduction to American Legal Systems, with the remaining seven credit hours consisting of an externship in litigation vis-à-vis a government agency, such as the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Illinois Attorney General’s Office, Cook County Public Defender’s Office, a dispute resolution/mediation practice, or a criminal or civil litigation practice.

English language competency is essential in order to participate meaningfully in the advocacy programs and, most especially, in the externship, which is taken during the second semester of the program. This seven-credit-hour practicum will require the LL.M. student to maintain a weekly journal and meet with the director regularly to review specific cases, hearings, and legal research the candidate has participated in or observed. The Specialized Externship also involves a written report on comparative practices in trial advocacy.

Faculty

The LL.M. Program in Trial Advocacy embodies full-time faculty with significant and divergent experiences in teaching trial advocacy to foreign students and practicing attorneys. The program is directed by Associate Dean Adam Weber.

The true strength of the trial advocacy program comes from its adjunct faculty, who as practicing attorneys provide students with the most current and effective strategies in courtroom litigation.  The adjunct faculty includes many alumni of Chicago-Kent and, more specifically, the law school's successful and noteworthy mock trial teams.

Request Information

Use our online form to request information and updates regarding admission to the LL.M. Program in Trial Advocacy.