Lindsey Halligan, the previous insurance coverage legal professional who spent a while “masquerading” — to make use of a federal decide’s phrases — because the U.S. Lawyer for the Jap District of Virginia tried to ramrod felony circumstances in opposition to Donald Trump’s political enemies and failed spectacularly. Halligan botched the grand jury process, submitted an indictment that the full grand jury never saw, and got two cases dismissed simultaneously. After a decide dominated that she held the place illegally, she continued signing off on filings. When all was mentioned and accomplished, one other federal decide wrote that she escaped a disciplinary referral “in gentle of her inexperience.” It nonetheless might not be enough to shield her from sanctions.
Halligan is likely to be a superbly satisfactory insurance coverage lawyer, like Alina Habba before her, Halligan realized the exhausting means that courtroom advocacy requires greater than the Trump administration’s “Have Legislation Diploma, Will Prosecute” strategy to filling key positions.
Legislation faculty alone can’t put together somebody for courtroom, however sensible training from skilled mentors can. And regulation college students can receives a commission whereas studying.
As soon as once more, elite litigation boutique MoloLamken will host its Advocacy Academy, an intensive one-week courtroom coaching program for 12 rising 3Ls. Purposes are open now, and should you’re a present 2L who desires to study trial and appellate advocacy from attorneys who’ve collectively tried a whole bunch of circumstances and argued a whole bunch of appeals, take a look at this program.
The ML Advocacy Academy runs from the night of Sunday, August 3 by means of Friday afternoon, August 8, 2026 — dates deliberately chosen to keep away from conflicting with different summer time affiliate packages or authorities and public curiosity internships. This system gives stand-up expertise inspecting witnesses and making trial and appellate arguments with personalised suggestions from the agency’s companions, together with co-founders Steven Molo and Jeffrey Lamken. And MoloLamken Students obtain a $4,500 money award, with journey and lodging coated for members coming from outdoors New York Metropolis.
We’ve covered the Academy since its launch, and the evaluations from previous students have been persistently spectacular. Individuals have known as this system “mind-blowing” and “invaluable,” praising the low-pressure surroundings the place they may take dangers and get direct, sincere suggestions. One described studying that their perceived weak point — being a hand-talker — could possibly be leveraged right into a courtroom energy after watching advocacy movies on mute. The advantage of breaking down recreation movie!
As we famous in our recap of last year’s program, attendees have been significantly struck by the sources the agency commits. Companions flew in from each MoloLamken workplace to guide periods, and each named companions made themselves persistently current for individualized suggestions.
“It’s troublesome for attorneys beginning out to get sensible courtroom abilities coaching,” mentioned co-founding associate Jeffrey Lamken. “This program offers excellent regulation college students who need to turn out to be nice advocates a stable grounding primarily based on our real-world expertise.”
Associate Megan Church, one of many Academy’s organizers, added: “It’s vital for us to remain near what’s occurring with regulation college students. This can be a means to do this and contribute to the coaching of the subsequent era of nice advocates.”
The hole between regulation faculty and courtroom competence isn’t closing by itself. If something, with AI dealing with extra of the grunt work historically dealt with by junior attorneys, younger attorneys might want to turn out to be property to their corporations as an advocate sooner than ever. Packages like this one provide alternatives that regulation college students don’t usually get.
To study extra and apply, go to mololamken.com/academy. The deadline for purposes is March 3.
Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Legislation and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Be at liberty to email any ideas, questions, or feedback. Comply with him on Twitter or Bluesky should you’re concerned with regulation, politics, and a wholesome dose of faculty sports activities information. Joe additionally serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.
