First Year Competition

In the spring of students’ first year they are eligible to compete in the Ben Franz First Year Mock Trial Competition.

In advance of the competition, current trial team members hold training sessions with the first year competitors, teaching them basic trial skills. At the actual competition students perform different phases of trial, including opening statement, direct and cross examination and closing argument before faculty members and experienced trial team coaches, the latter all former trial team members when they attended Pacific McGeorge Law school.

All students compete in the preliminary rounds. The top twenty advocates advance to the final round one week later, again performing persuasive trial advocacy in the courtroom. The top three finalists receive a scholarship and have their name permanently embossed in a plaque on display in the Courtroom Trophy case.

This first year competition is excellent preparation for trial team tryouts the following year. Students receive training and begin to acquire the skills they need to be persuasive in the courtroom and to win regional and national competitions.

For more information or to join the first year Ben Franz Competition, contact Professor Cary Bricker.

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