Civil Litigation Concentration
Program Highlights
- Rich experiential opportunities, including specialized courses in pretrial case development and discovery, depositions, trial practice and advanced trial practice
- Wide range of specialized courses, including alternative dispute resolution, appellate advocacy, complex litigation, e-discovery, international commercial arbitration, mass torts and patent litigation
- Capstone opportunities in environmental law and labor and employment law
- Inter-school competition opportunities in mock trial, moot court and negotiation
- Live-client clinics in a wide range of different subject areas
- Opportunities to learn directly from judges and practicing attorneys
- Opportunities for networking and career advancement with alumni worldwide
- Litigation and Trial Advocacy Group, an active student organization that hosts speakers and other events
Study Opportunities
- Required courses: evidence, civil procedure II, an approved pretrial skills course and trial practice
- Additional elective courses related to litigation from an extensive range of subjects available, including live-client clinics, in-class experiential offerings, doctrinal courses related to litigation in particular substantive fields, a variety of jurisdiction courses and various competition opportunities that also offer academic credit
- Students in the concentration are additionally encouraged to take administrative law, tax I, and courses related to substantive areas in which they may want to practice
Practical Opportunities
- Students may participate in one of 14 litigation-based clinics including Bankruptcy, Child Advocacy & Juvenile Justice, Civil Practice, Consumer Protection, Detainee Rights, Housing Law, Immigration & Human Rights Law, Tax Law (Federal Income) and Workers’ Rights.
- Six separate moot courts provide appellate advocacy experience.
- Full trial experience is available through trial practice and advanced trial practice courses taught by experienced litigators and judges, and through participation on the mock trial competition team.
- The Judicial Externship Program offers students an opportunity to be assigned to a federal or state court judge to work and observe over the course of a semester.
Employment Opportunities
- The Twin Cities legal community offers students abundant opportunities for part-time work during the school year or full-time work during the summer in litigation-related practices.
- Prospective employers from around the country come to the Law School to interview students for summer and permanent positions.
- Many students also choose to begin their careers by first clerking for a federal or state court judge.
- The Law School provides regular notice of employment opportunities, fellowships and other scholarly opportunities.
Student-Led Opportunities
The Litigation and Trial Advocacy Group (LTAG) invites trial attorneys and judges to attend luncheons with students interested in litigation. Topics include major cases the attorney or judge has participated in, daily life as a litigator or judge and career paths in litigation. The luncheons also are good networking opportunities.