Our mission is to prepare you to excel as an advocate who can ethically and skillfully represent clients in an array of legal matters.

The Eglet Center for Advocacy & Dispute Resolution will help prepare you to become an outstanding advocate, whether your career takes you to the courtroom, the boardroom or beyond. U.S. News & World Report ranked our Trial Advocacy Program No. 9 in the nation in its 2023-24 Best Graduate Schools guide.The reason for that ranking is due in large part to the success of our outstanding Mock Trial and Moot Court teams, which consistently win awards in regional and national competitions.

The Center has provided training programs around the globe, including in Chile, Italy, Cambodia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kosovo. In fact, we received a $2.1 million USAID grant to train Chinese law professors in experiential teaching. From 2016-2018 we also provided a similar program as part of the United States/Russia Foundation (USRF) in collaboration with the Russian Foreign Trade Academy Law School (Moscow).

The award-winning McGeorge Mock Trial and Moot Court Competition Programs provide numerous opportunities for students to expand their courtroom experience, improve appellate advocacy skills, and refine their skills in client counseling, negotiation, and arbitration.

Students receive coaching and practice in specific trial skills and each year, are able to test their abilities in competitions across the nation and around the world in such diverse subject areas as international law, constitutional law, criminal procedure, intellectual property, and more.

Advanced students are eligible for membership on competition teams that represent McGeorge in interscholastic competitions at regional, national, and international levels. Selection for any of the competitions is made by the faculty director of the Mock Trial or Moot Court or Negotiation programs.

Competition Teams

The award-winning McGeorge Moot Court and Mock Trial Competition Programs, directed by the Eglet Center for Advocacy & Dispute Resolution, provides numerous opportunities for students to expand their courtroom experience, improve appellate advocacy skills, and refine their skills in client counseling, negotiation and arbitration.

Books By or Co-Authored by McGeorge Faculty

  • Michael T. Colatrella, Jr., Mediation - SKILLS & TECHNIQUES (LexisNexis 2008) (with L. Boulle and A. Picchioni).
  • David W. Miller, Michael Vitiello & Michael R. Fontham, PERSUASIVE WRITTEN AND ORAL ADVOCACY IN TRIAL AND APPELLATE COURTS (2d ed. 2007).
  • David W. Miller, Michael Vitiello & Michael R. Fontham, PRACTICING PERSUASIVE ORAL AND WRITTEN ADVOCACY: CASE FILE III (Aspen 2005).
  • David W. Miller, Michael Vitiello & Michael R. Fontham, PRACTICING PERSUASIVE WRITTEN AND ORAL ADVOCACY: CASE FILE II (Aspen 2003).
  • David W. Miller, Michael Vitiello & Michael R. Fontham, PRACTICING PERSUASIVE WRITTEN AND ORAL ADVOCACY: CASE FILE I (Aspen 2002).
  • Mary-Beth Moylan, George Harris & David W. Miller, PRACTICING PERSUASIVE WRITTEN AND ORAL ADVOCACY, CASE FILE IV (Aspen 2009) (forthcoming).
  • Joseph E. Taylor, GILBERT V. O'NEIL: CASE FILE (will be published, 2008).
  • Joseph E. Taylor, STATE v. SKYWOLF, PROBLEMS AND CASE FILE (NITA, 2008).
  • Joseph E. Taylor, STATE V. DELANEY: PROBLEMS AND CASE FILE (2nd Edition, 2007).
  • Joseph E. Taylor, STATE V. BAKER: PROBLEMS AND CASE FILE (2nd Edition, 2006).
  • Joseph E. Taylor, STATE V. CASEY: PROBLEMS AND CASE FILE (NITA 2003).
  • Michael Vitiello, Bridge to Practice Series, Criminal Procedure Simulations (West 2012)
  • Michael Vitiello, Bridge to Practice Series, Civil Procedure Simulations (West 2012)

Partial List of U.S. Law Schools Using Our Books

Albany Law School American University Washington College of Law
Appalachian School of Law Ave Maria School of Law
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Brigham Young University
California Western School of Law Capital University Law School
Catholic University of America

Cecil C. Humphries School of Law, University of Memphis

City University of New York Chapman University School of Law
Columbia Law School Cornell University
Creighton University School of Law Depaul University
Drake University Law School Duquesne University School of Law
Florida Coastal School of Law Florida International University Law School
Florida State University College of Law Fresno City College
George Washington Law School Golden Gate University School of Law
Hamline University, Mitchell Hamline School of Law Lamar University
Liberty University Louisana State University, Paul M. Herbert Law Center
Loyola Law School Los Angeles Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University New Orleans School of Law Marshall University
Mercer University Metropolitan State University School of Law
Mississippi College of Law New England School of Law
New York Law School North Carolina Central University School of Law
North Lake Community College Nova Southeastern University Law Center
Oklahoma City University School of Law Pace University, Elizabeth Haub School of Law
Penn State Dickinson School of Law Pepperdine University School of Law
Quinipiac University School of Law Roger WIlliams University School of Law
Samford University, Cumberland School of Law Santa Clara University
Seattle University South Texas College of Law
South Western Law School Southern Illinois University
Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law Southern Methodist University, Graduate School for Dispute Resolution
Suffolk Law School Syracuse University College of Law
Temple Law School The University of Oklahoma Law Center
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Law Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University Tufts University
University of Arkansas at Fayetville School of Law University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law
University of California, Davis School of Law University of California, Hastings College of the Law
University of Denver, Sturm College of Law University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
University of Houston Law Center University of Idaho College of Law
University of Iowa University of Iowa College of Law
University of La Verne College of Law University of Maryland
University of Miami School of Law University of Mississippi
University of Montana University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of New Mexico School of Law University of New York, University at Buffalo
University of North Carolina School of Law University of Oregon
University of Pennsylvania Law School University of Pittsburgh School of Law
University of Richmond School of Law University of San Diego School of Law
University of San Francisco School of Law University of South Carolina School of Law
University of Southern California, Gould School of Law University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
University of Tulsa University of Washington
University of Washington School of Law University of West Los Angeles School of Law
University of Wisconsin School of Law University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Valparaiso University School of Law Vanderbilt University Law School
Vermont Law School Wake Forest School of Law
Western New England College School of Law West Virginia College of Law
Whittier Law School Widener University School of Law

 

The Eglet Center for Advocacy & Dispute Resolution Faculty have had scholarship work published in Law publications around the country as well as around the globe.

Alternative Dispute Resolution and Negotiation

Michael T. Colatrella, A Lawyer for All Seasons: The Lawyer as Conflict Manager, 49 San Diego L. Rev. 93 (2012).

Michael T. Colatrella, Jr., Mediation - SKILLS & TECHNIQUES (LexisNexis 2008) (with L. Boulle and A. Picchioni).

Omar Dajani, Shadow or Shade: The Roles of Law in Palestinian-Israeli Peace Talks, 32 YALE J. INT'L L. 61 (2007), reprinted in VICTOR KATTAN, ED., THE PALESTINE QUESTION IN INTERNATIONAL LAW (London: British Society of International and Comparative Law, 2008).

Omar M. Dajani, Preparing for the Inevitable Negotiation, 35 J. PALESTINE STUD. 39 (Spring 2006).

Omar M. Dajani, Surviving Opportunities: Palestinian Negotiating Behavior in Peace Talks with Israel, in ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATING STYLES: A CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY (Washington: U.S. Institute of Peace Press, 2005).

Stephen C. McCaffrey, Symposium, Beyond International Water Law: Successfully Negotiating Mutual Gains Agreements for International Watercourses, 22 PAC. MCGEORGE GLOBAL BUS. & DEV. L. J. 139 (2009) (with Alex Grzybowski & Richard K. Paisley).

Gregory S. Weber, Who Killed the Friendly Settlement? 7 PEPP. DISP. RESOL. J. 215 (2007).

Gregory S. Weber, Threading the Needle: A Moderator's Guide to Freedom of Speech Limitations on the Facilitation of Government-Sponsored Web-Based Threaded Discussions, 9 COMP. L. REV. & TECH. J. 323 (2004).

Jarrod Wong, General Valuation Principles: The Case of Santa Elena in International Investment Law and Arbitration: Leading Cases from the ICSID, NAFTA, Bilateral Treaties and Customary International Law (T. Weiler, ed., 2005) (with C. Brower).

Civil Litigation

Gerald Caplan, Legal Autopsies: Assessing the Performance of Judges and Lawyers Through the Window of Leading Contract Cases, 73 ALB. L. REV. 1 (2009).

Charles D. Kelso, Judicial Decision-Making and Judicial Review: The State of Debate, Circa, 112 W. VA. L. REV. 351 (2010).

J. Clark Kelso, Access to Justice: A Broader Perspective, 42 LOY. L. A. L. REV. 1147 (2009) (with William C. Vickrey & Joseph L. Dunn).

Stephen C. McCaffrey, Forward to THE LAW OF NON-NAVIGATIONAL USES OF INTERNATIONAL WATERCOURSES: OPTIONS FOR REGIONAL REGIME-BUILDING IN ASIA, at xxv (Nahid Islam, Wolters Kluwer 2010)

Gregory S. Weber, CALIFORNIA CIVIL DISCOVERY (with James E. Hogan, 2d ed. Lexis Nexis/ Mathew Bender 2005 & Supp. 2005-2010).

Gregory S. Weber & James Hogan, CALIFORNIA DISCOVERY 2007 SUPP. (2007).

Gregory S. Weber & James Hogan, CALIFORNIA DISCOVERY 2006 SUPP. (2006).

Gregory S. Weber, CALIFORNIA CIVIL DISCOVERY (6th ed., LexisNexis 2005) (with coauthor).

Civil Rights Litigation

Brian Landsberg, Free at Last to Vote: Alabama and the Origins of the Voting Rights Act (2007).

Brian Landsberg, The Kennedy Justice Department's Enforcement of Civil Rights: A View from the Trenches, chapters 17 (at 194) and 18 (at 209) of the on-line book, JOHN F. KENNEDY HISTORY, MEMORY, LEGACY: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY INQUIRY, Edited by John Delane Williams, Robert G. Waite and Gregory S. Gordon (2010), http://www.und.edu/org/jfkconference/ .

John E. B. Myers, Editor, THE APSAC HANDBOOK ON CHILD MALTREATMENT (3rd ed. Sage 2010).

John E. B. Myers, Editor, Juvenile Court, in THE APSAC HANDBOOK ON CHILD MALTREATMENT (3rd ed. Sage 2010).

John E. B. Myers, History of Child Protection in America, in THE APSAC HANDBOOK ON CHILD MALTREATMENT (John E. B. Myers ed., 3d ed. Sage 2010).

John E. B. Myers, Legal Issues in Child Abuse and Neglect Practice, in THE APSAC HANDBOOK ON CHILD MALTREATMENT (John E. B. Myers ed., 3d ed. Sage 2010).

John E. B. Myers, THE HISTORY OF CHILD PROTECTION IN AMERICA (U. of the Pacific 2010).

John E. B. Myers, A Comparison of Types of Attorney Representation for Children in California Juvenile Court Dependence Cases, 32 CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 497 (2008) (with Gail S. Goodman et al.).

Michael Vitiello, Lies, Damn Lies and Claims of Judicial Activism, 14nexus 55 (2009).

Michael Vitiello, Punishing Sex Offenders: When Good Intentions Go Bad, 40 ARIZ. ST. L. J. 651 (2008).

Criminal Litigation

Cary Bricker, Revisiting the Crime-Fraud Exception to the Attorney-Client Privilege: a Proposal to Remedy the Disparity in Protections for Civil and Criminal Privilege Holders, 82 TEMP. L. REV. 149 (2009).

Linda E. Carter, GLOBAL ISSUES IN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (with Christopher Blakesley & Peter Henning, West Group (2011)

Linda E. Carter, The Principle of Complementarily and the International Criminal Court: The Role of Ne Bis in Idem, SANTA CLARA J. INT'L L (2010).

Linda E. Carter, The Challenge of ‘Firsts' in International Criminal Justice: First Courts, First Judges, and Issues of First Impression, in PROTECTING HUMANITY: ESSAYS IN INTERNATIONAL LAW AND POLICY IN HONOUR OF NAVANETHEM PILLAY (Chile Eboe-Osuji ed.; Martinus Nijhoff 2010)

Linda E. Carter, Le développement de la procedure pénale international: Le défi d'un mélange entre les systems de droit romano-germanique et de la common law [Developing International Criminal Procedure: The Challenge of Blending Civil and Common Law Legal Systems] available at http://fsjp.ucad.sn/images/stories/fsjp/lejpocarter.doc.

Linda E. Carter, UNDERSTANDING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT LAW (LexisNexis) (1st ed. 2004) (2nd ed. 2008) (with Ellen Kreitzberg & Scott W. Howe).

Linda E. Carter, & Ellen Kreitzberg, Innocent of a Capital Crime: Parallels Between Innocence of a Crime and Innocence of the Death Penalty, 42 TULSA L. REV. 437 (2006).

Linda E. Carter, Justice and Reconciliation on Trial: Gacaca Trials in Rwanda, in Reading Materials for International Criminal Law (McGeorge 2006).

Linda E. Carter, Compliance with ICJ Provisional Measures and the Meaning of Review and Reconsideration under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations: Avena and other Mexican Nationals (Mex. V. U.S.), 25 MICH. J. INT'L. L. 117 (2003).

Leslie Gielow Jacobs, Retooling Law Enforcement to Investigate and Prosecute Entrenched Corruption: Key Criminal Procedure Reforms for Indonesia and Other Nations, 30 U. PA. J. INT'L L. 183 (2008) (with Benjamin B. Wagner).

Stephen C. McCaffrey, TRANSNATIONAL LITIGATION IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE (with Thomas O. Main, Oxford 2010)

John E. B. Myers, The Criminal Prosecution of Child Maltreatment, in THE APSAC HANDBOOK ON CHILD MALTREATMENT (John E. B. Myers ed., 3d ed. Sage 2010).

John E. B. Myers, Proving Child Maltreatment in Court, in THE APSAC HANDBOOK ON CHILD MALTREATMENT (John E. B. Myers ed., 3d ed. Sage 2010).

Mary-Beth Moylan, Clemency in Capital Cases in California, 14 BERKELEY J. OF CRIM. L. 37 (2009) (with Linda E. Carter)

Emily Garcia Uhrig, The Sacrifice of Unarmed Prisoners to Gladiators: The Access-to-the-Courts Demand for Right to Counsel in Federal Habeas Corpus Proceedings, U. PENN. JOURNAL OF CONST. LAW (forthcoming 2012)

Emily Garcia Uhrig, A Case for a Constitutional Right to Counsel in Habeas Corpus, 60 HASTINGS L.J. 541 (2009).

Michael Vitiello & Cary Bricker, "Chinese Homicide Law, Irrationality and Incremental Change," 27 Temple Intl & Comp L J 43 (2013).

Michael Vitiello, Alternatives to Incarceration: Why is California Lagging Behind?, 28 George State L. J. 1275 (2012)(symposium article).

Michael Vitiello, A Kiss Is Just a Kiss, or Is It? A Comparative Look at Italian and American Sex Crimes, 40 Seton Hall L. Rev. 191 (2010).

Michael Vitiello, Herring v. United States: Mapp's "Artless" Overruling?. 10 NEV. L. J. 164 (2010).

Michael Vitiello, Legalizing Marijuana: California's Pot of Gold?, 2009 WIS. L. REV. 1349.

Michael Vitiello, Introduction: Symposium on Sentencing Guideline Law and Practice in a Post-Booker World, 37 McGeorge L. Rev. 487 (2006).

Michael Vitiello, California's Three Strikes and We're Out: Was Judicial Activism Our Best Hope? 37 U.C. DAVIS L. REV. 1025 (2004).

Michael Vitiello, Personal Reflections on Connick v. Thompson, (to appear Ohio State Criminal Law Journal, 2013 [peer reviewed])

Evidence

Thomas J. Leach, CALIFORNIA EVIDENTIARY FOUNDATIONS, SUPP. (with Edward J. Imwinkelried, 4th ed. LexisNexis 2010)

Thomas J. Leach, California Evidentiary Foundations (4th ed.), LexisNexis 2009 (co-author with Edward J. Imwinkelried).

Thomas J. Leach, How Do Jurors React to "Propensity" Evidence?--A Report on a Survey, 27 AM. J. TRIAL ADVOC. 559 (2004).

Thomas J. Leach, FEDERAL & CALIFORNIA EVIDENCE RULES (published biennially with David W. Miller, Aspen 2001)

John E. B. Myers, Children's Disclosure Statements as Evidence in the United States Legal System, in CHILDREN'S TESTIMONY: A HANDBOOK OF PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND FORENSIC PRACTICE, at Ch. 15 (Michael E. Lamb et al., eds John Wiley & Sons 2011).

John E. B. Myers, Children in Court, in CHILDREN WELFARE LAW AND PRACTICE: REPRESENTING CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND STATE AGENCIES IN ABUSE, NEGLECT AND DEPENDENCY CASES, at Ch. 30. (Donald Duquette & Ann Haralambee eds., Bradford 2010).

John E. B. Myers, Hearsay Evidence in Child Maltreatment Cases, in THE APSAC HANDBOOK ON CHILD MALTREATMENT (John E. B. Myers ed., 3d ed. Sage 2010).

John E. B. Myers, Expert Testimony in Child Sexual Abuse Litigation: Consensus and Confusion, 14 U. C. DAVIS J. JUV. L. & POL'Y 1 (2010).

John E.B. Myers, MYERS ON EVIDENCE IN CHILD ABUSE, DOMESTIC, AND ELDER ABUSE CASES (4th ed. Aspen 2010).

John E. B. Myers, Improved Forensic Interviewing: The Legacy of the McMartin Preschool Case, in THE EVALUATION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO ASSESSMENT AND TESTIMONY (Kathryn Kuehnle & Mary Connell eds., John Wiley & Sons 2009).

John E. B. Myers, Expert Psychological Testimony in Child Sexual Abuse Trials, in CHILDREN AS VICTIMS, WITNESSES, AND OFFENDERS: PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE AND THE LAW (Bette L. Bottoms et al. eds., Guilford 2009).

John E.B. Myers, Repeated Questions, Deception, and Children's True and False Reports of Body Touch, in CHILD MALTREATMENT (2007).

John E.B. Myers, et. al., Hearsay Versus Children's Testimony: Effects of Truthful and Deceptive Statements on Jurors' Decisions, 30 LAW & HUM. BEHAV. 363 (2006).

John E.B. Myers, Legal Issues for Mental Health Professionals Treating Victims of Child Sexual Abuse, in HANDBOOK FOR THE TREATMENT OF ABUSE & NEGLECTED CHILDREN at 359-396 (P. Forrest Talley ed., Haworth Press 2005).

John E.B. Myers, Legal Issues, in CHILD MALTREATMENT: A CLINICAL GUIDE AND REFERENCE (Angelo P. Giardino, et al., eds., G.W. Medical 2005 3d ed.).

Teaching Advocacy

Linda Carter, UNDERSTANDING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT LAW (2nd ed., Lexis Nexis 2008) (with E. Kreitzberg and S. Howe).

Julie Davies, Methods of Experiential Education: Context, Transferability and Resources, 22 PAC. MCGEORGE GLOB. BUS. & DEV. L.J. 21 (2009).

Brian Landsberg, A Train the Trainers Program for building Legal Infrastructure in China, 8 THE CIP REPORT, NUMBER 12, P. 6 (June 2010).

Brian Landsberg, Preface to Teng Hongqing and Changxing Liu, ACCESS TO THE JUSTICE: CLINICAL LEGAL EDUCATION.

Brian Landsberg, Strategies to Increase the Availability of Skills Education in China, 22 PAC. MCGEORGE GLOBAL BUS. & DEV. L. J. 45 (2009).

Brian Landsberg, REPRESENTING CLIENTS: SIMULATION CASE FILES FOR LEGAL EDUCAITON [IN CHINESE] (Zhejiang Gongshang University Press 2008) (co-editor with Luo Wenyan).

Hether C. Macfarlane, CALIFORNIA LEGAL RESEARCH (with Suzanne E. Rowe, Carolina 2008)

Mary-Beth Moylan, PRACTICING PERSUASIVE WRITTEN AND ORAL ADVOCACY, CASE FILE IV (Aspen 2009)(with George C. Harris & David W. Miller).

John E. B. Myers, Trial Advocacy, in CHILDREN WELFARE LAW AND PRACTICE: REPRESENTING CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND STATE AGENCIES IN ABUSE, NEGLECT AND DEPENDENCY CASES, at Ch. 32. (with Steven Lubert, Donald Duquette & Ann Haralambee eds., Bradford 2010).

Stephanie Thompson, LEGAL WRITING EXERCISES: A CASE FILE AND FORMULA-BASED APPROACH TO LEGAL REASONING (West 2010).

Joseph E. Taylor, STATE V. ANDERSON: PROBLEMS AND CASE FILE (2d ed. NITA 2011) (forthcoming).

Joseph E. Taylor, GIBLERT V. O'NEIL: PROBLEMS AND CASE FILE (NITA 2010) (forthcoming).

Joseph E. Taylor, STATE V. SKYWOLF, PROBLEMS AND CASE FILE (NITA, 2008).

Joseph E. Taylor, STATE V. DELANEY: PROBLEMS AND CASE FILE (2nd Edition, 2007).

Joseph E. Taylor, STATE V. BAKER: PROBLEMS AND CASE FILE (2nd Edition, 2006).

Joseph E. Taylor, STATE V. CASEY: PROBLEMS AND CASE FILE (NITA 2003).

Michael Vitiello, PERSUASIVE WRITTEN AND ORAL ADVOCACY IN TRIAL AND APPELLATE COURTS (2d ed. 2007) (with coauthors).

Michael Vitiello, Teaching Effective Oral Argument Skill: Forget About the Drama Coach, 75 MISS. L.J. 869 (2006).

Michael Vitiello, PRACTICING PERSUASIVE ORAL AND WRITTEN ADVOCACY: CASE FILE III (Aspen 2005) (with coauthors).

Michael Vitiello, PRACTICING PERSUASIVE WRITTEN AND ORAL ADVOCACY: CASE FILE II (Aspen 2003) (with coauthors).

Michael Vitiello, PERSUASIVE WRITTEN AND ORAL ADVOCACY IN TRIAL AND APPELLATE COURTS (Aspen 2002) (with coauthors).

Michael Vitiello, PRACTICING PERSUASIVE WRITTEN AND ORAL ADVOCACY: CASE FILE I (Aspen 2002) (with coauthors).

  • Ben Frantz First-Year Mock Trial Competition
    • Top Three, plus awards for Best Opening, Best Direct Examination, Best Cross Examination, Best Closing, and Most Professional
  • Ferris-White Trial Advocacy and Mock Trial Competition Prize
  • Joseph E. Taylor Service Award
  • CourtCall Prize in Mock Trial / Trial Advocacy
    • CourtCall, a leader in provision of remote court appearances, has generously donated an annual prize of $250 to be awarded to the graduating senior who has distinguished themselves as a top participant in Trial Advocacy, Mock Trial Competition Team, and Trial Advocacy Association courses and activities. Criteria are:
      • High grade / performance in Trial Advocacy and Advanced Trial Advocacy
      • Distinguished performance on the Mock Trial Team, measured by both achievements in competitions and evaluations by the Team coaches
      • Service to the mock-trial community at McGeorge, including service to the student-run Ben Frantz First-Year Mock Trial Competition and the Trial Advocacy Association

The Noël M. Ferris Courthouse