Course Description:
This course presents an experiential opportunity for all students to understand the role of effective advocacy. Regardless of the practice area, lawyers must advocate and persuade decision makers—from clients to sales departments, from supervisors to judges. Through simulation and role-play exercises, we will unpack effective advocacy into its component parts; namely, the decision-making process, how best to inform and influence decision-makers, how to advance the advocacy process, and how to effectively advocate a position. Students will also consider the process of making difficult decisions. We will use real world scenarios to help students understand how to become better advocates. The classroom format will include short lectures, student presentations, and substantive feedback for those students not actively engaged in the simulation exercise. All students will also submit reflections tracking the learning experience.