About the Course
Objection, your Honor! Overruled! Guilty beyond a reasonable doubt! Lawyers and judges use these idioms as weapons in our favorite courtroom dramas. These phrases speak to the strategic wordplay at the heart of an American justice system in which two sides advocate their positions before an impartial judge and jury. How does one win in court? What goes into a strong legal argument? What are the rules and procedural context in which lawyers attempt to secure a favorable verdict? In this course, we’ll review the elements of an effective legal argument and learn about the American legal system, all while enriching our critical thinking, reading, and expression skills. Through individual and group work, we’ll analyze fictional court cases and apply what we’ve learned by constructing, presenting, and defending arguments in a mock trial.
The content in Making Effective Legal Arguments overlaps with the CTY course Making the Case: Effective Legal Arguments. Students who have already taken Making the Case: Effective Legal Arguments may wish to consult with an enrollment advisor before enrolling in this course.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the procedures involved in courtroom trials and the working of the American legal system
- Compose various forms of legal writing
- Analyze legal codes, witness testimonies, and case exhibits to construct an argument to support a position
- Construct and present legal arguments that meet the threshold of the burden of proof, preponderance of evidence, or reasonable doubt
About Advanced Enrichment courses
These courses offer above-grade-level material that is presented in a novel context, explored with other advanced learners, and guided by a CTY educator to help prepare students for higher-order thinking and college-style academic challenges.
Requirements
CTY courses have grade-level requirements and most require minimum test scores. Some courses may also have prerequisites.
Identification DetailsDates and Tuition
Online
You will be asked to join or sign in first.
Days: Every Wed for 7 weeks
Times: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Register by: December 15, 2025
Time Commitment:
Please acquire all course materials by the course start date, unless noted as perishable. Items marked as “perishable” should not be acquired until the student needs them in the course. If you have questions about these materials or difficulty locating them, please contact [email protected].
Families will be notified by email of any required materials one week prior to the course start date.
Time commitment: 2.5-3.5 hours per week (1.5 hours of class time, 1-2 hours of independent work). Course will include 6 sessions over 6 weeks.
You will be asked to join or sign in first.
Days: Every Wed for 7 weeks
Times: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Register by: February 17, 2026
Time Commitment:
Please acquire all course materials by the course start date, unless noted as perishable. Items marked as “perishable” should not be acquired until the student needs them in the course. If you have questions about these materials or difficulty locating them, please contact [email protected].
Families will be notified by email of any required materials one week prior to the course start date.
Time Commitment: 2.5-3.5 hours per week (1.5 hours of class time, 1-2 hours of independent work). Course will include 6 sessions over 6 weeks.
Registration Fee and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees will be waived or reduced for students who qualify for financial aid.
Learn more about Financial Aid