Advocacy and Dispute Resolution

This certificate program complements Chapman’s overall commitment to train competent, ethical lawyers. Students may earn the certificate by meeting the following requirements:

Core Required Courses

• Trial Practice
• Negotiations
• Client Interviewing and Counseling

These courses teach lawyering skills that are fundamental to virtually all areas of legal practice, and therefore form the foundation for the certificate.

Students may then choose two of the following courses to fill out the requirements for the certificate:

• Mediation
• Arbitration
• Law Practice Management
• Clinic (e.g., Elder Law, Tax)
• Appellate Practice
• Advocacy
• Advanced Evidence
• Pre-trial Civil Practice
• Depositions and Discovery in Complex Litigation
• Selected Externships
• Competitions
• California Evidence Law (Subject to approval of the Director of the program)

The options allow students to elect a further focus. For example, students who wish to emphasize Alternative Dispute Resolution might select Mediation and Arbitration. Students planning to become litigators might choose Pre-trial Practice and Advanced Evidence or Appellate Practice. Students who expect to work in small firms or to open a solo practice would find Law Practice Management highly relevant. Clinical and Externship opportunities would also be chosen based on the student’s preferred area of practice.

To earn the Certificate, students must have an overall cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher and a cumulative GPA in all certificate courses of 2.8 or higher.

Our commitment to training competent, ethical lawyers is also reflected in our plans for developing a Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution. The Center will offer a variety of educational opportunities for the Orange County legal community, as well as mediation services in which Chapman students can participate.