For a better experience, click the Compatibility Mode icon above to turn off Compatibility Mode, which is only for viewing older websites.

January

This Week

Filter by Category

  • Register Now: MontCo District Attorney’s Office Trial Advocacy Academy

    Deadline: February 1

    The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office is excited to invite you to our Second Annual Trial Advocacy Academy—a hands-on learning experience led by prosecutors, using a real case problem to teach practical and high-level courtroom advocacy.

    The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office is excited to invite you to our Second Annual Trial Advocacy Academy—a hands-on learning experience led by prosecutors, using a real case problem to teach practical and high-level courtroom advocacy. We are thrilled to offer this opportunity to support students’ development as advocates.

    Over February and March, seasoned prosecutors will guide law students through the process of presenting a compelling criminal prosecution, using a real case as the foundation. On February 7, students will review and learn the case problem, focusing on trial components including opening statements, direct examinations, cross examinations, and closing arguments. The following week, students will return with their questions and materials to receive live feedback and coaching during practice sessions with these attorneys as they workshop their trial. Students will then compete in a preliminary round and, if selected, a final round before District Attorney Steele, First Assistant Ed McCann, and many other high-level prosecutors.

    Key Information

    • Location: Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, Norristown, PA
    • Dates: 
      • 2/7/26, 9 am - 4 pm: Classroom teaching and case analysis.
      • 2/14/26, 9 am - 4pm: Continued classroom teaching, breakout sessions to practice and collaborate with coaches.
      • 3/14/26, 3/21/26: Preliminary competition round dates (students will only compete once in the preliminary round on a selected date).
      • 3/28/26: Final competition (top four 2L/3L teams and top four 1L opening statement finalists).
    • Registration Deadline: February 1, 2026 
    • Remote Students: Students who attend school a substantial distance from Norristown may inquire for zoom participation for the classroom components.

    Who Can Participate & How It Works

    • 2Ls and above: Full trial competition—students (in pairs) present a complete trial using a real case before senior level prosecutors, with prosecutors serving as defense counsel.
    • 1Ls: Opening Statement Competition—1L’s will individually deliver opening statements using the same case before a jury of prosecutors.
    • Lecture Only Option: Students may attend the training sessions and competitions without competing.

    To register, please complete the 2026 Trial Advocacy Academy Registration form: https://bit.ly/Advocacy-Academy by February 1, 2026.

    01.20

  • Landlord-Tenant Court Observation Pro Bono Project

    The Stern Community Lawyering Clinic is running an observation project in Philadelphia’s Municipal Court, focused on landlord-tenant cases. The CLC’s Assistant Director and practicing tenants’ rights attorneys will train and supervise law student observers.

    The Stern Community Lawyering Clinic is running an observation project in Philadelphia’s Municipal Court, focused on landlord-tenant cases. The CLC’s Assistant Director and practicing tenants’ rights attorneys will train and supervise law student observers.

    All students will meet in January or early February for an initial training and to sign up for court observation shifts. During the training you will learn about landlord-tenant laws in Philadelphia, courtroom procedures, and how to take and submit notes on our forms.

    About Landlord-Tenant Court

    Most Municipal Court civil cases are heard in courtrooms on the sixth floor of the Widener Building at 1331 Chestnut Street. We will be observing Courtroom 3. Court proceedings officially begin around 8:45am; trials and hearings generally begin around 10:00am.

    The majority of the cases heard in Landlord-Tenant Court are evictions and related petitions filed by landlords, but you may also see claims or crossclaims filed by tenants.

    Expectations for Pro Bono Volunteers

    • Attend the initial training and read all materials before your first day in court.
    • Commit to a regular schedule of weekly or every other week court visits from 10:00am to at least 12:30pm. You may choose to stay later and earn more pro bono hours if hearings run later than 12:30pm.
    • Dress respectfully and follow all court rules. This includes turning your phone off, not just silencing it, while you are in the courtroom.
    • During court sessions, fill out the project survey forms and take other notes as instructed. You will be taking notes with pen and paper, as electronic devices are not permitted in the audience. Turn the forms in to the project supervisor within 48 hours.

    Pro Bono Hours

    The number of pro bono hours you earn may vary depending on your availability, how many cases go to a hearing each day, and how long hearings last. You will likely earn around 20 hours if you go to court every other week, or 40 hours if you go every week. You can count training, debrief meetings, and actual court observation time as pro bono hours; you cannot count travel time.

    Contact and More Info

    Email Professor Stephanie Dorenbosch at sad336@drexel.edu with any questions or to request an invitation to the training sessions.

    If you are accepted in this project, please be sure to submit a signed pro bono project registration form to Rashida West at rtw27@drexel.edu. Signed timesheets and evaluations should be submitted at the end of the semester or when finished volunteering.

    01.20

  • Graduation 2026

    Please apply for your degree or submit the Walkthrough form by January 31, 2026.

    This year’s Commencement Ceremony will take place Friday, May 29, 2026 at 11 a.m, at the Kimmel Center.

    • If you will be completing your requirements this Spring, please apply for graduation via DrexelOne. You will also choose an attendance response for the ceremony through that application.
      • If you need to change your name or add or remove a concentration, please do so BEFORE APPLYING.
    • If you are not completing your requirements but would like to “walk” in the 2026 ceremony, you may complete a Walkthrough form. JD students must be within 25 credits of completion at the end of the term to be eligible to participate and LLM students within 7 credits of completion.

    Please apply for your degree or submit the Walkthrough form by January 31, 2026.

    Ticket and regalia information will be sent later in the Spring. We cannot provide ticket information until we know the number of students participating, so please submit your graduation application or Walkthrough form by the deadline!

    01.13