"You know you missed your calling. You should have been an actor."
-Trial and Error
Each year, Mock Trial members either compete or participate as alternates in one of several competitions. Competitions encompass a variety of legal topics; however, expertise in specialized fields is not required. In Mock Trial, presentation and personal style matters just as much as a command of the rules of evidence and applicable law. Advocating in front of real lawyers and judges, traveling, and a chance to shine in the spotlight.....Mock Trial competitions have it all!
Our Competitions for the 2007-2008 School Year Included...
Buffalo-Niagara
On November 9-12, 2007, four competitors and four alternates from the UW Mock Trial Team journeyed to Buffalo, NY to participate in the Niagara Mock Trial competition. The competition features a criminal law problem brimming with a compelling cast of characters and plenty of intrigue and mystery! For more details, check out: http://law.fordham.edu and search "Buffalo Niagara Mock Trial Competition."
National Association Of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
This extremely prestigious competition draws many of the best mock trial teams in the nation; in fact, entry is by invitation only! In the fall of 2007, UW was invited. On October 17-20, 2007, four fantastic mock trialers traveled to this Key West event, where the sun (and fun!) was as intense as the competition. For more details, check out: www.nacdl.org.
AAJ
Wisconsin reached the regional semi-finals in Las Vegas, NV, in 2006, and sent teams to both Philadelphia and Chicago in 2007. In the Spring of 2008, UW sent two competition teams to the Chicago regional American Association for Justice (AAJ) competition where one team went 3-0 in the opening rounds and advanced to the semifinals amongst a field of 16 teams. AAJ usually features a personal injury problem that requires the witnesses to be as knowledgeable as the attorneys. For more details, contact check out: www.atla.org.
Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA)
Don't let the name fool you: In 2006, the competition came to us; in 2007, we journeyed to St. Louis (where we advanced to the semifinals), and 2008 took us to Kansas City (where one of two teams advanced to the semifinals) for the TYLA Competition. Unlike many mock trial competitions, student attorneys preparing for TYLA do not have the luxury of preparing their witnesses weeks before trial. Attorneys must engage with "witnesses" (usually volunteers from the community) they meet just a few minutes before the trial begins... a true opportunity to showcase quick thinking! For more information, visit: www.tyla.org/advocacy_ntc.html.