Activities and Services
Competitions
The School of Law has a comprehensive program of advocacy training
that involves both intra-school competition and participation in external
programs. The school has established a strong tradition of excellence in
inter-school competition both at the regional and national levels.
National Mock Trial Competitions
Students compete in intra-school competition to demonstrate their
abilities in trial skills. Those achieving the best scores represent the school in regional and national mock trial competitions, including the National Trial Competition (coordinated by the American Bar Association's Section on Litigation and the Texas Young Lawyers Association) and the American Association for Justice Mock Trial Competition.
National Moot Court Competitions
All students may participate in intra-school moot court competition.
Additionally, students showing outstanding appellate advocacy abilities represent the school in annual regional and national moot court competitions, including the National Moot Court Competition, sponsored by the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.
Outstanding student advocates also participate in a variety of other
competitions, including the Administrative Law Moot Court Competition, the
Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition, the Judge Conrad B. Duberstein
National Moot Court Competition (Bankruptcy Law), the Giles Sutherland Rich
Moot Court Competition (Patent Law) and the Jessup International Law Moot
Court Competition. Teams compete locally, nationally and internationally
in these competitions.
Client Counseling and Negotiation Competitions
Each year the School selects teams to compete in the ABA Negotiation
Competition and the National Client Counseling Competition. Selection is based on intra-school competitions open to all students.
The Scott Welch Memorial Advocacy Fund
This fund was endowed by alumnus Lantz Welch in memory of his son, and by
memorial contributions of friends of the family. The fund provides travel
expenses and recognition for students representing the School of Law in national appellate advocacy and mock trial competitions.
Viewing Actual Court Proceedings
The E.E. "Tom" Thompson Courtroom, attached to the law building, is one of
the premier teaching courtrooms in the country. It contains computer-controlled audiovisual equipment, together with a 70-seat sound-proof
observation balcony, providing a full opportunity for teaching with the aid of audiovisual critique. A complement of ancillary rooms enables the courtroom to be used by state and federal trial and appellate courts, providing special learning experiences for students.