Prerequisite: C or better in LRRW.
The second semester Advocacy course focuses on persuasive writing and oral advocacy. Students learn that writing a persuasive document, like objective writing, is also a process involving research, analysis, organization, writing and rewriting. During this semester students continue training in computer research using Lexis and Westlaw. Students learn about using advocacy skills to resolve a case without litigation as they write letters to adversaries, mediation summaries, and conduct a negotiation. Persuasive writing assignments include writing briefs to the trial court and to the appellate court. Students first write an argument based on a memo problem from their first semester. Next, students complete an open research trial level brief. After writing in support of or in opposition to a motion the students argue that motion in class. The appellate problem is also open research; the students use both traditional book research as well as computer research tools. The Advocacy class culminates in the traditional first year oral arguments.