FAQs
1. What is the MoloLamken Advocacy Academy?
The Academy is a one-week, intensive training program that gives 12 law students – MoloLamken Scholars – the opportunity to develop their courtroom skills while learning from leading trial and appellate advocates, including Steven Molo and Jeffrey Lamken. Each Scholar will receive personalized tips and feedback to help them take their advocacy to the next level. The Academy will also provide opportunities for Scholars to socialize with one another and their instructors.
2. Why did MoloLamken found the Academy?
We founded the Academy to train, mentor, and inspire the next generation of courtroom advocates by teaching real-world advocacy skills, and to continue to build our ties to the law school community.
3. Is the MoloLamken Advocacy Academy an internship program?
No, the Academy is not an internship program. It’s an advocacy training program with lectures, demonstrations, and exercises focused on developing trial and appellate advocacy skills.
4. When is the 2024 MoloLamken Advocacy Academy?
The Academy begins on the evening of Sunday, August 11, and runs through the early afternoon of Friday, August 16, 2024. The Academy’s schedule is designed to accommodate students participating in law firm summer associate programs and government or public interest internships.
5. Who should apply to the MoloLamken Advocacy Academy?
Students entering their final year of law school in the fall of 2024 (Rising 3Ls) with a strong interest in advocacy should apply to the Academy.
6. When is the application deadline?
The deadline to apply to the Academy is February 7, 2024. The selection process to become a MoloLamken Scholar is competitive. We encourage applicants to submit their applications early.
7. How do I apply?
To apply, email us your resume, law school transcript, a brief letter of recommendation (an email will do), and an essay of no more than 350 words that explains your interest in the Academy to MLAcademy@mololamken.com. Applicants who are selected as finalists will be interviewed via zoom.
8. Can my letter of recommendation be submitted separately?
Yes. If your recommender would prefer to submit the recommendation separately, please have them email us at MLAcademy@mololamken.com with the subject line: "[Applicant’s Full Name] – Recommendation."
9. Who should I ask to write a letter of recommendation for me?
We are looking for a brief letter of recommendation or email from anyone who knows you and can speak to the quality of your legal work. Appropriate references include law professors, clinic faculty, current or former employers, or internship/externship supervisors.
10. When will I know if I’ve been selected as a MoloLamken Scholar?
Scholars will be notified of their selection in March of 2024.
11. Will I receive compensation for participating in the Academy?
Scholars will receive a $4,500 award for their participation in the week-long academy.
12. What if I already have summer employment?
Congratulations on having your summer employment secured! We have designed the schedule for the MoloLamken Advocacy Academy to accommodate your summer job – whether as a summer associate, intern, extern, research assistant, etc. – and your participation in the Academy. The Academy requires full-time participation from August 11 through August 16, 2024.
13. Will I receive an offer of employment at the end of the Academy?
You won’t receive an offer of employment at the end of the Academy, but we hope that you will keep in touch with us as a MoloLamken Scholar and Academy alum.
14. Is housing provided for Scholars coming from outside New York?
Yes. We’ll put you up in a hotel near our New York office. We’ve already reserved a room for you!
15. Are travel expenses reimbursed?
If you live elsewhere, we’ll reimburse reasonable travel expenses for you to come to New York.
16. What topics and skills does the MoloLamken Advocacy Academy teach?
The Academy teaches practical courtroom and advocacy skills. Scholars will learn how to examine and cross-examine witnesses, present trial and appellate arguments, introduce evidence, and learn strategies to succeed in the courtroom.
17. Is there anything I need to bring with me to the Academy?
Bring your best professional self, committed to a week of collaborative learning about what it means to be an effective courtroom advocate and how to become that. Leave behind any self-doubts, fear of failure, or sense that you might know it all already. You’ll also need your laptop.
18. What is the attire for the Academy?
The Academy’s attire is business. Scholars will be on their feet each day as courtroom advocates, so you must dress for the courtroom.
Business casual attire is appropriate for Academy dinners.
19. Will I have to do any work in advance for the Academy?
Scholars should review the course materials they receive before arriving at the Academy, but extensive advance preparation isn’t necessary. We have designed the Academy to be an intensive week-long experience. Most of the work and preparation for each day’s assignments will be completed the night before and during the day’s active exercises.
20. Does MoloLamken have a summer associate program?
Sorry, we don’t. If you think you might like to come work with us in the future – after a clerkship or two – the Academy is a great way to get to know the firm.
21. Can I get academic credit for participating in the Academy?
That’s between you and your law school. We’ve not designed the Academy with that in mind. But we’re happy to provide law schools with details of the curriculum if that helps students get credit.
For any other questions email MLAcademy@mololamken.com