UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND LAW SCHOOL TEAM ADVANCES TO NATIONAL TRIAL COMPETITION
Feb. 22, 2001
A team of three University of Richmond Law School students has advanced to the National Trial Competition in Dallas March 21-24.
Second-year students Greg Hoffman, Dale Mullen and Molly August
won their berth by advancing to the finals of the Virginia Trial
Lawyers Regional Competition held recently in Richmond. They will
join first-place Georgetown in competing with teams from across
the U.S.
Hoffman, Mullen and August were the only team of second-year students
in the regionals. All the other schools sent third-year students.
A second University of Richmond team comprised of Carlotta Visher, Terrese Walker, and Tabrica Cook advanced to the semi-finals before losing to Georgetown.
This is the first time Richmond Law has ever sent a team to the national competition.
The Richmond teams topped three days of intramural competition, winning the right to represent the university at the regionals. At the Virginia competition, they argued both sides of a grand larceny embezzlement case before a jury of Virginia judges and practicing attorneys.
"You never knew whether you had to argue the prosecution side or the defense side," Mullen said.
The team will tackle a brand new case (a murder trial) at the nationals. They are rehearsing with a group of lawyers, students and teachers "to help us try it as many times as we can," Mullen said.
The atmosphere is very competitive, Mullen said, but the camaraderie of the team is enjoyable.
"It's a nice experience to learn and develop trial skills," Mullen said. "Each time you try the case, you get a critique with suggestions on how to do better."
Legal skills courses at Richmond "give you everything you need to be successful as a trial lawyer," Mullen said. Most schools do not offer classes that focus on research, briefs writing, trial practice and appellate advocacy skills, he explained. "Our classroom preparation is second to none."