Legal Practice Program: An Immediate Engagement in Developing Professional Skills

Michigan’s Legal Practice Program provides each first-year student with individualized instruction in legal research and analysis, persuasive legal writing, and oral advocacy. The average class size is fewer than 25 students.

Students are assigned to one of 9 full-time Legal Practice professors, each expert in the craft of legal writing, for intensive, interactive training. Legal Practice professors critique and grade students’ assignments and hold conferences with individual students to discuss progress in the course. Second- and third-year students serve as research assistants for the professors and as mentors for the students.

During the first semester, students consider what it means to be a lawyer in the role of counselor rather than in the role of advocate. They prepare several writing assignments, present written analysis of a legal problem, and learn how to conduct legal research with training in Lexis and Westlaw. During the second semester the focus shifts to an advocacy perspective. Students draft pre-trial and trial motions and argue one of their briefs before a judge or panel of judges. This comprehensive approach leaves students excellently prepared for success in their first summer jobs and beyond. For those with specialized writing interests, Michigan also offers several upper-level drafting practicum courses in Securities Regulation, Business Transactions, Negotiation, Appellate Practice, and Dispute Resolution.