DCSIMG

Advocacy Certificate Program

A specialized curriculum leads to a J.D. degree plus a Certificate in Advocacy. Pacific McGeorge offers students exceptional faculty and facility resources in advocacy. Students who wish to become litigators receive specialized practical training to prepare for effective careers in litigation, civil and/or criminal trial and appellate work, or dispute resolution.

The certificate awarded to the student who successfully completes the program attests to the student's demonstrated proficiency in the knowledge, skills and competencies included in the program.

A wide range of courses enables the student to learn and demonstrate competencies in writing, appellate and trial oral advocacy, knowledge and application of evidence, trial preparation, trial conduct, alternative dispute resolution, negotiation and counseling, and clinical representation of clients.

If any of the courses listed may be taken for either two or three units, students are generally expected to enroll for three units. Enrollment in a course for fewer than two units generally will not satisfy the requirements of this program.

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A student must satisfy established requirements, such as course prerequisites or competitive selection, for any of the required courses. In addition:

1. a student must achieve an overall (combined) minimum GPA of 2.7 (or B-) in all courses submitted for qualification for the Certificate;

2. in any course/activity taken for the "Practice" requirement, a student's mentor must submit a written report certifying that the student performed at a satisfactory level; and

3. if service on a competition team is submitted as a substitute for the requirement of Advanced Trial Advocacy, a student's coach must submit a written report certifying that the student performed at a satisfactory level.

Students seeking Certificate credit for a field placement, a competition team, or a law review or journal, must confer with the Program Director well enough in advance of registration to ensure that the particular placement or project to be undertaken by the student will be in keeping with the purposes of the Advocacy Certificate Program.

If a course requires a commitment beyond one semester, the second semester of the course may, with the approval of the Program Director, be counted as an additional course for the purposes of satisfying the requirements of this program.

When there is good cause, the Program Director may vary the requirements of this program in individual cases; prior written approval of such variance is required.

Instructions regarding enrollment in the Advocacy Certificate are included in registration materials or may be obtained from the Registrar or Professor Thomas J. Leach, Director of the Advocacy Certificate Program at 916.739.7002 or by email.


ADVOCACY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

BASIC COURSES | UNITS

  • Civil Procedure (5 units)
  • Evidence (5)
  • Global Lawyering Skills II (4)*
    * NOTE: Law review or journal service does not operate as a substitute for the requirement for Global Lawyering Skills II as it pertains to the Certificate.
  • Trial Preparation and Advocacy (3)
  • Advanced Trial Advocacy (3) 
    OR Advanced Appellate Advocacy Seminar (2 + 2)
    OR Competition Team (2 or 3) (prior written approval from Director required)
  • Civil Pretrial Litigation (2)
    OR Criminal Pretrial Litigation (2)

TRIAL ALTERNATIVES | UNITS
AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES:

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution (3)
  • Negotiations and Settlement Seminar (2) or (3)
  • Judicial Arbitration Practice (3)
  • Mediation (3)

LAW AND THEORY UNDERLYING LITIGATION | UNITS
AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES:

  • Advanced Criminal Procedure (2 or 3)
  • Complex Civil Litigation (2 or 3)
  • Conflict of Laws (3)
  • Evidentiary Privileges and Informational Privacy (3)
  • Expert and Scientific Evidence (2)
  • Federal Courts (3)
  • Law Review or Journal (prior written approval from Director required)
  • Sentencing and Post-Conviction Remedies (2)
  • Tax Practice and Procedure (2)

PRACTICE | 2 UNITS MINIMUM
AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES:

  • Administrative Adjudication Clinic (2)
  • Bankruptcy Clinic (3)
  • Crime Victims Clinic (2)
  • Federal Defender Clinic (3)
  • Housing Mediation Clinic (3)
  • Immigration Clinic (2)
  • Parole Representation Clinic (3) 
  • Prisoner Civil Rights Mediation Clinic (3)
  • Field Placement - (prior written approval from Director required; substantial litigation activity is required, including in most cases client contact or, for placements in the offices of the US Attorney, a District Attorney, or the California Attorney General, interviewing or preparing witnesses).

    AND
  • One additional course from any of the three categories above (Basic Courses category excluded); alternatively, Computer-Assisted Litigation or Client Interviewing & Counseling may be taken to satisfy this requirement.