Moot Courts and More: Discover UB’s Advocacy Institute and Concentration

Whether you’re ready to dive into litigation or you’re just looking to dip your toes in with some extra research, UB’s Advocacy Institute is the right place to start. Open to every student, the Advocacy Institute is the main hub for all things litigation. They serve to help you cultivate the necessary skills, ethics, principles and discipline to become a passionate and effective litigator.

The Institute hosts programs in Trial Advocacy, Appellate Advocacy, and Mediation, giving you the opportunity to train with leading judges, trial attorneys and other faculty to build the foundation needed for serving future clients. The Institute is also home to the School of Law’s Innocence and Justice Project, using research and litigation to help combat the systemic problems of over-incarceration, racial injustice and unjust convictions.

The University at Buffalo School of Law’s Advocacy Concentration gives you a unique trifecta of experiences to help you bridge the gap between curious student and effective litigator. The concentration involves three essential areas:

• Doctrinal courses: You’ll participate in a set of rigorous courses that provide the theoretical building blocks to help your creativity and adaptability as a lawyer.
• Skill-based courses: Next, you’ll delve into courses from the trial, appellate, and mediation programs to ensure you understand a broad spectrum of areas to improve your versatility.
• Client-centered advocacy: Finally, the concentration emphasizes the importance of the client, requiring you to represent clients through the law school’s clinics and practicums.

To apply for the Advocacy Concentration program, submit an application online. Visit the Advocacy website to view the requirements or reach out with any questions.

Some might say the best way to get a feel for litigation is to jump right in! Of course, we mean with moot courts and mock trials, but everyone needs to start somewhere. These experiences not only help you refine your research, writing and oral advocacy skills, but they provide a challenging and rewarding space to flex your skills, build support and gain camaraderie among fellow students and coaches.

The University at Buffalo School of Law hosts four annual competitions throughout the year:

• Charles S. Desmond Moot Court Competition
  
  This is an intramural competition that gives law students the opportunity to argue a constitutional case. Watch the final round of the 2020 Charles S. Desmond Moot Court Competition.
  
  

• Mediation Competition
  
  This is an intramural competition where law students form attorney-client teams and are given two different dispute fact scenarios distributed by the Dispute Resolution Section of the American Bar Association (ABA). Together the team strategizes and prepares to negotiate during two mediation sessions. Hear recent graduates discuss the benefits of participating in the Mediation Competition.

• Buffalo-Niagara Mock Trial Competition
  
  This is one of the biggest national invitational competitions in the country, with more than 30 teams competing annually. Teams from law schools across the country travel to Buffalo to compete in this prestigious annual competition. Law students try both sides of a homicide case before experienced judges and trial attorneys who volunteer as judges and evaluators. View the final round of the virtual 2020 Buffalo-Niagara Trial Competition.
  

• Herbert Wechsler National Criminal Moot Court Competition
  
  This is the only national moot court in the country to focus on topics in substantive criminal law. Problems address the constitutionality and interpretation of federal and state criminal statutes as well as general issues in the doctrine of federal and state criminal law. Watch the final round of the 2021 Herbert Wechsler National Criminal Law Moot Court Competition.

In addition to these well-recognized local competitions hosted by UB, the School of Law also offers the opportunity to participate in external competitions against other law schools across the nation, competing in areas like trial advocacy, tax, and international, environmental and criminal law, as well as mediation and arbitration. Visit the Advocacy Competitions page to learn more about past competitions and team rosters.

Are you ready to take on the world of litigation? Get more information on our advocacy law programs by following the resource links below.

Additional Resources

Advocacy Concentration
Advocacy - School of Law - University at Buffalo

Advocacy Institute
The Advocacy Institute - School of Law - University at Buffalo

Advocacy Competitions
Advocacy - School of Law - University at Buffalo