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Build and argue your own case in this 2-week trial advocacy academy for high school students at UCLA School of Law.
Course Description
Carry your argument from the opening statement to the jury’s verdict. A strong case needs more than a persuasive speech: every witness question must serve the story you’re asking the jury to believe.
In this course you will develop a theory of the case, the central explanation that connects your evidence and arguments. Most mornings are spent drafting; most afternoons put that writing on its feet as you perform for peers and receive critique. Shape an opening statement, question witnesses, and prepare a closing argument that sustains your case from start to finish.
The work goes beyond the basics. Argue pretrial motions, requests for a judge’s ruling before trial, and respond to objections in real time. Practice challenging a witness’s credibility on cross-examination, then visit a courthouse to watch a jury trial in progress. A final jury trial brings your strategy and rehearsed arguments together, with family and friends invited to watch the deliberations.
This two-week full-day academy for high school students takes place at UCLA in Los Angeles, California. The program is developed by UCLA School of Law and offered in partnership with Summer Discovery. The academic experience is taught by UCLA and Loyola faculty.
What You Will Do
• Develop the central explanation that supports your case
• Draft and perform opening statements and closing arguments
• Question witnesses and challenge their credibility on cross-examination
• Argue pretrial motions and respond to objections
• Watch a jury trial at a courthouse
• Conduct a full jury trial using your case strategy
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Connect evidence and arguments through a coherent theory of the case
• Use witness questions and objections to advance or challenge an argument
• Evaluate courtroom choices and refine an argument through performance and critique
You’ll leave with your drafted trial arguments and a certificate of completion.
Is This Academy Right for You?
For students who have completed 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.
If you want to move beyond courtroom basics and make your own strategic choices, this academy offers a more demanding look at advocacy. Foundations, school mock trial, or an interest in trial law can be a starting point. The emphasis is on writing and performing arguments, with critique helping you sharpen the case.
Your Summer at UCLA
UCLA places your summer in Los Angeles, where entertainment, business, technology, and culture meet. That setting gives an interest in law a wider context: legal questions shape the industries and communities around the university.
The UCLA Law program brings students interested in debate, justice, and communication into the same academic setting. Alongside the course, the broader Los Angeles summer experience offers another way to discover what holds your attention. You can explore an interest in law without having your future mapped out.
Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive