For decades, law schools have promised to produce “practice-ready” lawyers, but many new associates quickly discover that doctrinal training doesn’t fully prepare them for the courtroom, client meetings, or the unexpected challenges of real litigation. Law school traditionally focuses on case law, appellate decisions, and academic legal writing. While those skills are valuable, they do little to teach future attorneys how to argue motions under time pressure, navigate witness examinations, or respond to a judge’s unexpected evidentiary question.
This gap between theory and practice has sparked growing calls for reform, with some schools expanding their clinical programs and trial advocacy offerings. However, one law firm has taken matters into its own hands and created a unique solution. MoloLamken LLP’s Advocacy Academy is a groundbreaking week-long program designed specifically to help rising third-year law students (3Ls) transition from classroom theory to real-world litigation practice.
A Paid, Hands-On Approach to Advocacy Training
The Advocacy Academy is intentionally timed to follow the conclusion of students’ summer associate programs and take place before the start of the fall semester. This timing allows participants to focus exclusively on learning advocacy skills without competing academic demands. Importantly, students are paid for their participation, reinforcing that their time and effort have real value.
Unlike law school mock trial programs, which often use canned fact patterns and predictable simulations, the Advocacy Academy immerses students in challenging, sometimes surprising scenarios. Participants engage in a wide range of practical exercises, from oral arguments and evidentiary hearings to “pop-up” assignments that require on-the-spot analysis.
Partners from all of MoloLamken’s offices are directly involved in training, offering personal guidance and immediate feedback after each exercise. This kind of mentorship is rarely available to law students on such an intensive scale.
Skills Beyond the Casebooks
Law school teaches students how to think like lawyers, but programs like the Advocacy Academy teach them how to act like lawyers. Students learn how to:
- Control the courtroom with presence and body language, using hand gestures and pacing to reinforce arguments rather than distract from them.
- Handle unexpected objections and rulings, learning to think and respond under pressure.
- Adjust tone and delivery to match the audience, whether persuading a judge or appealing to a jury’s sense of fairness.
- Incorporate strategic pauses and clarity of speech to command attention during argument.
One participant noted that the Academy helped transform what they initially viewed as “bad habits,” such as using their hands while speaking, into powerful tools for persuasion. These small but critical adjustments can make the difference between a compelling advocate and a forgettable one.
Immediate Impact and Long-Term Benefits
Students leave the Advocacy Academy with greater confidence, improved courtroom instincts, and a clearer sense of what it takes to succeed as a litigator. For law firms, that means incoming associates are better prepared, require less basic training, and are ready to contribute sooner.
From a broader perspective, programs like this also benefit the legal profession as a whole. Judges, clients, and senior lawyers consistently report frustration with young associates who lack practical skills. Closing this gap ensures that the next generation of attorneys can represent clients competently from day one, strengthening public trust in the justice system.
A Model for Legal Education Reform
The success of MoloLamken’s Advocacy Academy demonstrates that even short, focused programs can significantly accelerate professional readiness. Law schools may look to replicate this model, perhaps in partnership with law firms, to integrate similar training into their curriculum. The combination of experiential learning, direct mentorship, and immediate feedback has proven to be one of the most effective ways to bridge the gap between legal education and real-world practice.
Students, for their part, are encouraged to seek out opportunities like the Advocacy Academy, moot court teams, clinics, externships, and pro bono experiences that provide hands-on exposure to real clients and real cases. The earlier they gain these skills, the more competitive and confident they will be when entering the job market.
The Bottom Line
Bridging the gap between law school and practice is no longer optional—it’s a professional imperative. Clients expect value from the first billable hour, and law firms expect associates to hit the ground running. Programs like MoloLamken’s Advocacy Academy offer an innovative blueprint for how law firms and educators can work together to prepare students for the realities of practice.
JDJournal will continue to follow this important trend in legal education and training, spotlighting initiatives that help turn law students into capable, confident advocates.
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