Director:
Prof. John F. Nivala The Widener
Taishoff Advocacy, Technology, and Public Service Institute offers students an opportunity to develop their knowledge of and proficiency in the fundamental skills essential to becoming a competent, professionally responsible advocate. Students have access to courses covering all basic trial advocacy skills. These courses are presented in a clearly integrated sequence and are taught by Institute-selected instructors using approved material and course outlines.
Admission RequirementsStudents must submit an application to the Registrar’s Office by no later than the drop/add period of their final semester. To be awarded a Trial Advocacy Certificate, a student must have an overall cumulative average of 2.8
and a 2.8 cumulative average in all concentration courses.
Required CoursesTo be awarded a Trial Advocacy Certificate, students must take the following courses:
- ITAP (or Trial Methods)
- Interviewing and Counseling
- Pretrial Methods
- Advanced Trial Methods
- Clinic (if the student cannot be acommodated in a clinic, he/she must select an externship or at least two litigation-focused courses approved by the Director)
Writing Requirement:All students seeking a Trial Advocacy Certificate must prepare a trial advocacy directed research paper or take a course approved by the Director which satisfies this writing requirement.
Contact InformationDirector: Professor
John F. NivalaPhone: 302-477-2489
Email: jfnivala@mail.widener.edu