The 模拟审判委员会 represents 福勒法学院 at various mock trial competitions. Teams of three or four members prepare and argue a case in an actual courtroom, with members of the bench and bar serving as judges. This includes making opening statements and closing arguments, conducting direct and cross-examination of witnesses and raising evidentiary objections when appropriate. The cases argued are carefully drafted legal problems that give members an opportunity to develop and enhance their trial advocacy skills in a courtroom setting.
One thing that sets our program apart from other schools, is that all of our coaches were on the 模拟审判委员会 at Chapman and did extremely well in mock trial. They are also currently either District Attorneys or civil litigators. This is valuable because they can offer advice on how to perform well at mock trial, and in the real world of litigation. That means our focus is not only on preparing students for success in mock trial, but also to prepare students for success as future litigators.
To join the 模拟审判委员会, interested students must try out and compete in an internal mock trial competition. 学生 select partners and are given a case to prepare and argue. On the day of the competition, student teams conduct a trial with other student teams in a courtroom. 模拟审判委员会 members, along with law faculty and members of the local bench and bar, evaluate and score the students on their "raw" trial advocacy skills. Members are then invited to join the Board based on their scores. 学生 receive academic credit for interscholastic trial competitions.