Regional law competition rules a win for The W Mock Trial Team
Mississippi University for Women’s Mock Trial team had a successful weekend at Regional Competition at Mississippi College School of Law Feb. 16-18. Every member of the team who played an attorney or witness was ranked on a judge’s ballot as a favorite attorney and/or witness.
The W Mock Trial team won ballots against Troy University and Mercer University during Regional Competition. The W Mock Trial team tied in number of ballots won with Rhodes College, Tulane University and one Mercer University Team. The W Mock Trial team won more ballots than the other Mercer University team, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, both Troy University teams, Mississippi College and one University of Mississippi team.
Members of this year’s mock trial team included: Llayne Skinner, Emma Morrison, Micaela Hudgins, Hanna Tichy, Selena Winston, Paige Bivens and Ethan Box.
Ashley Chisolm, professor of legal studies and co-coach of The W’s Mock Trial team hopes to see more and more students interested in joining the university’s mock trial team. “The skills you learn in mock trial are transferrable across majors. Additionally, if students are interested in attending law school, more and more law schools view having mock trial experience as a bonus on a law school application.”
When asked about why students should join The W’s Mock Trial team Hudgins, a senior legal studies major, said “Mock trial will teach you how to work in a team setting, how to effectively communicate and teach you critical thinking skills. Being a part of a group of like-minded people who are interested in the law will also spur friendships and connections that you wouldn’t normally be able to make outside of mock trial.”
Wesley Garret, co-coach for The W’s Mock Trial team and chair of the Legal Studies Department, said, “This year’s team overcame several obstacles along the way in preparation for competition and we could not be prouder of their performances at Regionals. “
The W’s Mock Trial team is open to all students on campus regardless of major. Students earn class credit in both the fall and spring semesters of an academic year as they prepare for competition. Student competitors will prepare to play both the prosecution/plaintiff side as well as the defense side.
The W is an institutional member of the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) which releases the annual case each Fall. Any students interested in joining The W’s Mock Trial team for the 2024-2025 Academic Year are encouraged to contact Garrett (whgarrett@muw.edu) or Chisolm (eachisolm@muw.edu ).