Charleston School of Law has launched the Center for Trial Advocacy to serve law school students, alumni and the local legal community by providing an opportunity to meet, collaborate, learn and improve courtroom and advocacy skills.
Through the center’s opportunities, students will receive practical advocacy knowledge, real-world experience, externships and other networking opportunities.
Suzanne Chapman, professor and the center’s inaugural director, said the opportunities will benefit students and the larger advocacy community.
“The opening of the center not only recognizes our students’ previous achievements but also provides them with future opportunities to engage with, learn from and work beside leaders in the field of litigation,” Chapman said.
The center will house the current Charleston Law co-curricular trial advocacy board, an organization of students who have been selected to represent the law school at national trial competitions.
The opening of the center comes on the heels of Chapman’s success in revitalizing the trial advocacy board at the Charleston School of Law over the past two years.
“Since 2023, our students have been named quarterfinalists twice, semifinalists, finalists and won three best advocate awards at national trial advocacy competitions,” Chapman said. “They are motivated to capitalize on their recent successes and to push for more next semester and in the years to come.”
Constance Anastopoulo, interim president and professor of Charleston Law, said the center is consistent with the school’s goal of improving and strengthening the skills needed for students to become great advocates and litigators for their clients.
For alumni and other members of the local legal community, the center will provide opportunities to engage with law students and with each other to improve their own courtroom skills through CLEs, speaking events, conferences and other practical hands-on opportunities.
