Syracuse Sun

The College of Law will host two new intercollegiate trial advocacy competitions in the 2024-2025 academic year: the National Military Trial Competition (NMTC) and the Syracuse Deposition Competition (SDC). These additions bring the total number of Syracuse Law-hosted competitions to five.

The NMTC aims to introduce law students interested in military justice and the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG) to military court trials. The competition, scheduled for March 21-23, 2025, in Syracuse, will feature eight to twelve teams competing in a military court-martial case using the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and Rules for Courts-Martial (RCM).

To address potential unfamiliarity with military courts among students and coaches, the College of Law will offer a virtual non-mandatory introductory training session before releasing the fact pattern. Additionally, teams can choose their coach or be connected with current or former JAG officers willing to assist.

The SDC seeks to fill a gap in legal academia by providing students with practical skills for conducting and defending depositions. This virtual competition will take place from November 1-3, 2024. Given that depositions have become more common than trials over time—federal civil cases going to trial dropped from 20% between the 1930s and 1960s to just 3.5% by 1992—the SDC offers a critical platform for skill development.

A minimum of eight teams will compete in taking and defending depositions. Similar to NMTC, there will be a non-mandatory virtual training session on deposition practice basics before releasing the fact pattern.

“The new competitions close a gap in legal advocacy education as these are the first to address the unique challenges of military law and trials and the burgeoning reliance on depositions rather than trials to settle disputes,” said Professor Todd Berger, director of advocacy programs at the College of Law.

In addition to these new events, Syracuse University College of Law also hosts other competitions such as the National Trial League, Syracuse National Trial Competition, and Transatlantic Negotiations Competition (co-hosted with Queen’s University Belfast). Details about all hosted competitions are available on its website.

“Syracuse University College of Law has a track record of creating innovative advocacy curriculum and programs that further the practical educational needs of today’s law students,” stated Dean Craig Boise. “I am proud that our institution is adding these unique competitions that will help train new lawyers with the skills needed in the legal profession.”

Moreover, beyond hosting five intercollegiate competitions, Syracuse's College of Law offers an exclusive joint J.D./LL.M. degree in advocacy and litigation within three years at no additional cost compared to a standard J.D. The Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society also conducts five intracollegiate competitions while participating in numerous intercollegiate contests nationwide.