The goal of Campbell's Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law is to educate lawyers who will be prepared from the outset of their careers to serve their communities with legal skill and ethical and intellectual leadership, in the noblest tradition of counsellor.

Professional skills form an integral part of this legal education. Because lawyers are concerned with the prevention and resolution of disputes, Campbell provides a thorough education in the skills necessary to accomplish these goals.

Research and problem-solving skills are essential to this work. Campbell therefore requires legal research and writing courses in both semesters of the first year and emphasizes research and writing in each year of study.

Ultimate resolution of disputes may require trials and appeals, and Campbell recognizes that all lawyers should have a sound knowledge of trial and appellate processes. Campbell places each of its students in the courtroom during each year of study, in an integrated program that in 1986 received the American College of Trial Lawyers' Emil Gumpert Award as the outstanding Trial Advocacy Program in the nation.

Campbell's Trial and Appellate Advocacy Program is one of the most extensive in the nation in terms of both coverage and student involvement. It consists of three semesters of required courses (the highest number of required trial and appellate advocacy semester hours in the nation) that build on a broad base of knowledge derived from other required courses such as Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, Torts, Contracts, and other substantive courses. The program prepares students in the basic skills and procedure necessary for a practice involving litigation. While we recognize that not all of our students intend to become trial lawyers, we believe that skills training in advocacy will better equip our graduates in whatever setting they may ultimately find themselves. We recognize that much of what a lawyer does - in or out of the classroom - involves advocacy in one form or another.

Advocacy and other skills courses required at Campbell not only expose all students to the reality of the adversarial process they will eventually encounter, but also equip them to participate in it effectively.

Campbell's Trial and Appellate Advocacy Program is nationally recognized. Campbell teams have established a winning tradition by consistently performing well in competitions at the regional and national levels.