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All first year law students are required to attend two advocacy events, one based in trial advocacy and one based in appellate advocacy, to expose them to various aspects of the litigation process and prepare them for upper level courses.

Please note: In the event you have yet to complete both portions of the requirements by the end of the academic year, your class rank will be withheld at that time until both portions of the requirements are satisfied. Weekend JD students have two years to complete these requirements.

Trial Advocacy Event - Serving as a juror or as a bailiff for a mock trial

First, each student must fulfill the 1L Trial Advocacy Requirement by serving as a juror at one of the final trials of the upperclassmen in a Trial Practice course or as a bailiff/timekeeper for a pre-approved mock trial competition. Through either experience, first year students are given an opportunity to observe a full-length trial. Jurors have the added opportunity to render a verdict. There are several dates each year students may complete this requirement. To sign up for a Trial date, click here.

Trial Advocacy Dates for the 2022-2023 academic year:

  • Fri, October 7, 2022, approx. 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
  • Fri, October 7, 2022, approx. 3:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
  • Sat, October 8, 2022, approx. 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
  • Sun, October 9, 2022, approx. 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
  • Thurs, November 17, 2022, 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
  • Sat, November 19, 2022, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
  • Sat, January 14, 2023, 8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
  • Sat, January 14, 2023, 12:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
  • April 2023, Dates & Times TBA

Please note:

There are limits to how many students may sign up for each day, and all students are required to complete this activity, so please sign up for a date as soon as possible.

Appellate Advocacy Event - Observing an Appellate Argument or Serving as a Bailiff at a Moot Court Competition

Second, each student must fulfill the 1L Appellate Advocacy Requirement by serving as a bailiff/timekeeper or otherwise observing one round of an appellate argument at a pre-approved moot court (appellate) competition. This allows first year students to observe the appellate process.

You may fulfill this appellate advocacy requirement in one of the following ways:

  • Serve as a bailiff at the Windy City Moot Court Regional Tournament.
  • Serve as a bailiff at the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Midwest Regional Competition.
  • Serve as a bailiff for a round or observe as an audience member the Final Round of the Loyola Law Intra-School Moot Court Competition where second year students compete against each other in rounds of oral arguments.

To see available dates/times for the 2022-2023 academic year, visit the 1L Appellate Advocacy Requirement Sign Up page.