About Us

What is TAHP?

The Trial Advocacy Honors Program (TAHP) was created in 1994 for students who are interested in developing the important litigation skills and valuable confidence necessary to excel in trial advocacy. Through TAHP, members (or advocates) learn to express their creativity in a simulated trial atmosphere, presenting arguments with composure and poise, while mastering the rules of evidence.


Teams participate in national and regional mock trial competitions (consisting of both criminal and civil trials) throughout the academic year, where they demonstrate case preparation, pre-trial motions and preliminary matters, opening and closing statements, direct and cross examinations of witnesses, and use of exhibits. Advocates have earned awards at some of the nation’s most prestigious invitation-only competitions, judged by distinguished members of the bench and bar. 

Becoming an Advocate

Intramural Competition

The Trial Advocacy Intramural Competition is open to all first-year law students. The competition consists of five rounds. In the first round, advocates conduct a closing argument. The best advocates of the first round are invited to compete in the second round, where they conduct a direct examination and a closing argument. At the conclusion of the second round, the top eight advocates are invited to compete in single elimination rounds. The eight finalists are chosen on the basis of a combined score of points from the first two intramural rounds. Sixteen students receive awards in recognition of their accomplishments in the competition.

Membership

Students must interview to be considered for membership in TAHP. TAHP may decide who they wish to interview, but will at least invite the top 8 finalists from the Trial Advocacy Intramural Competition (i.e., those students who competed in the quarter finals). After interviewing, membership selection is made by the program's faculty advisors with the assistance of the TAHP's Board of Governors. Selections are based on the student's performance in the intramural competition, the attitude of the candidate, and a willingness to commit to the program. To be eligible for consideration for TAHP, a student must have a GPA of above a 2.33.