1st STEP
Summer Trial and Evidence Program
The Golden Gate University School of Law and its Litigation Center present 1st STEP (Summer Trial and Evidence Program), an integrated summer litigation curriculum for students who recently completed their first year of law school. The faculty and practitioners who lead the Litigation Center developed 1st STEP to cater to those law students who want to be trained as trial attorneys and litigators as early as possible in their legal studies.
This innovative 8-week, summer program is for selected law students who have recently completed their first year of law school. Students take integrated courses specifically designed to improve their litigation and advocacy skills including Evidence, Trial Advocacy, and a unique Litigation Center course called Evidence in the Courtroom. The program also includes presentation and acting techniques from a theater instructor.
Overview
Students will begin with an intense, full-time week of trial advocacy topics. Faculty and practitioners will lecture, demonstrate, and lead advocacy, persuasion and presentation workshops. With a strong foundation, students will then spend seven weeks immersed in Evidence and focused trial advocacy training, tethering their knowledge and application of the rules of evidence.
Features
IMMERSION WEEK: During the 1st week of the program, students will be introduced to the key advocacy and presentation skills that will set them apart during law school, in mock trial competition, and in practice.
EVIDENCE: During the seven weeks of the summer session, students will master the principles and arguments under the rules of evidence intensively, and with greater retention to integrate them seamlessly into practice. This full, 4-credit Evidence course is taught by experienced professors.
INTEGRATED CURRICULUM: Trial lawyers inevitably claim that they truly learned evidence by understanding how evidence comes to life through litigation and trial. In 1st STEP, students continuously apply and exercise the rules and concepts taught in their Evidence course – while learning evidence.
Why 1st STEP?
The earlier a law student receives the core course of Evidence and the fundamental trial skills of advocacy, persuasion and presentation, the better. We, the GGU Litigation Center, believe that law students are more receptive to advocacy, persuasion and presentation training earlier in their law school career than is offered at most law schools. We also believe that the doctrinal course of evidence is learned best when tethered to its practical application in the courtroom and in litigation.
What students say about 1st STEP . . .
“This was the best experience I have had in law school to date. For the first time I actually felt like professors were trying to teach me to be a lawyer. The first week was exciting, a little scary, and very informative. It reminded me why I came to law school.”- 2011
“Incredibly informative and confidence-inspiring. [It taught me] where I’m at and let me know where I need to get to.” – 2011
“I feel re-energized in my legal studies. The immersion week was intense but gave me a great practical base to continue to learn advocacy.” – 2011
Application & Brochure
Seats for this unique litigation program are limited. For further information and inquiries, contact the Director of the Litigation Center, Professor Wes Porter at wporter@ggu.edu.
