The University of California Hastings College of Law has dedicated the Cotchett Center for Advocacy in honor of Joseph W. Cotchett as one of its outstanding graduates. Chief Justice Ronald M. George of the California Supreme Court and Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy of the U.S. Supreme Court were among the speakers at the Founder's Day opening of the center. Cotchett previously has served as a member of the Hastings Board of Directors and is a frequent lecturer at the college.

California Supreme Court Chief Justice George joined Hastings alumnus Cotchett, right, at the inauguration of the Cotchett Trial Advocacy Center in 2001. The Center was designed in consultation with advocacy faculty for performance and small group instruction. It features computer-controlled cameras, allowing monitoring of multiple classrooms from a single control booth, provides state of-the-art recording technology, and lays a technological foundation that allows easy updating to accommodate emerging technology which will transform 21st century courtrooms: trial-organization software, visual media for instruction, voice-activation technology, and sound-specific microphones. The Center is used by the College's 16 advocacy instructors 17 trial-skills classes, enrolling hundreds of Hastings students annually. It opened in conjunction with Snodgrass Hall's dedication.