2007 1L MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION

November 15 – 20, 2007

The UW Moot Court Honor Board is pleased to host its first 1L Mock Trial Competition and welcomes all 1L’s to participate in this exciting, educational competition!  Mock Trial is your opportunity to test and sharpen your skills as a litigator.  Competitors conduct an entire trial from opening statements to closing arguments and have an opportunity to represent both the plaintiff and defense.

Absolutely NO knowledge of the law or outside research is required to participate in this competition.  Training will be provided.  All materials necessary for participation will be provided to competitors.  You will be able to talk with classmates about the problem and will be able to watch competitors in the 2L/3L competition. 

Benefits from Mock Trial Participation

In addition to acquiring and polishing trial advocacy skills, competitors will have an opportunity to be selected by the Moot Court Honor Board to join the Moot Court Board.  The two competitors selected will receive their invitation in Spring 2008.

Additionally, participation in the Mock Trial Competition is a category for selection to Order of the Barristers.  You may apply for Order of the Barristers in the last quarter of your third year.  A faculty committee selects up to ten applicants for membership in the Order based on an outstanding participation in moot court events.

Competition Dates and Time

The oral rounds will be held from Thursday, November 15, through Tuesday, November 20. 

• Thursday, Friday: Preliminary Round 1 (each team will compete on one of the two nights). 
• Saturday: Preliminary Round 2 (each team will compete in either the morning or afternoon round). 
• Sunday: quarterfinal rounds
• Monday: semifinal rounds
• Tuesday: final rounds

Signing Up

The sign-up period will begin on Wednesday, October 10, and end promptly on Tuesday, October 19, at 12:00 p.m., or when the number of teams reaches 60.

The sign-up sheets will be posted by the door of the Moot Court Office (Room 129).

When signing-up, please include a check payable to the Moot Court Honor Board.  The sign-up fee will be $50 per team.  Please put the check in the MCHB mailbox in the mailroom.

Competitor Package

After the sign up period ends, the Mock Trial committee will distribute a package via email to each team that will include: the Rules, Problem, pertinent sections from the Moot Court Honor Board Bylaws, Pre-trial Order, and objections list.

The problem will be distributed by email on October 19th.

Pairings for the preliminary rounds will be posted and sent out via email on November 13th.

Preparation for Mock Trial

We will have five lunchtime sessions to prepare you for the competition.  One member of each team is required to attend each lunchtime session.  These sessions will take place from October 22nd – November 2nd.  The topics to be covered include:

• Session 1: Opening Statements, Oct. 23rd @ 12:30 in Room 138
  Speaker: Sam Chapin
  
• Session 2: Closing Statements, Oct. 25th @ 12:30 in Room 133
  Speaker: Craig Sims
  
• Session 3: Direct Examination, Oct. 30th @ 12:30 in Room 119
  Speaker: Mike Wampold
  
• Session 4: Cross Examination, Oct. 31st @ 12:30 in Room 138
  Speaker: Kenneth Chang
  
• Session 5:Trial Strategy, Nov 7th @ 12:30 in Room 138
  Speaker: Maurice Classen
  

In addition to the mandatory lunchtime training sessions, there are several optional methods of preparation.  First, we encourage competitors to set-up and hold practice rounds with other teams.  Second, Professor Maureen Howard has invited all 1Ls to attend Trial Advocacy lectures, which take place on Monday afternoons from 3:30 – 5:30 in Room 138.  Finally, several copies of Trial Techniques by Thomas Mauet will be placed on reserve in the library.