LJS competes in American Mock Trial Association regional tournament
March 6, 2023
Lipscomb University Mock Trial Team at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
Students in the Fred D. Gray Institute for Law, Justice and Society participated for the first time as a program in the American Mock Trial Association competition, hosted by Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, Feb. 17-19, 2023.
Lipscomb University competed with teams across the region from Belmont University and Vanderbilt University to the University of Notre Dame and the University of Missouri.
The Lipscomb team consisted of eight students, within the Law, Justice and Society (LJS) program.
Professor Kimberly McCall, academic director for the Fred D. Gray Institute for Law, Justice and Society led the team as their sponsor. Alec Bailey, a 2022 LJS graduate, led the group through practices as an assistant coach. Bailey had the opportunity to compete in a national Moot Court competition and an on-campus Mock Trial during his time at Lipscomb.
After Lipscomb sent three teams to a national Moot Court competition in the Fall 2022 semester, students were eager to continue working with one another and competing nationally. At the behest of students, the Mock Trial team came to fruition. Students spent countless hours outside the classroom writing, studying, and practicing their arguments. McCall and Bailey both spent ample time advising students, equipping them for the upcoming competition.
Each team member served as either a witness or an attorney. Students who played the role of a witness fully assumed the character assigned. They responded to the questions asked by attorneys as their fictional character would, in accordance with the packet provided. Students who took on the role of an attorney broke up the pieces of a trial and focused on individual parts.
Congratulations to Nick Ingold, senior LJS student, for his award as an Outstanding Witness.
Students are passionate about the next competition and the growth potential for the future.
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