The University of Memphis Mock Trial Team will be hosting and competing in the Southeast Regional Competition Feb. 1-3.
The four members of The U of M Mock Trial Team have been practicing four days a week the last few weeks to prepare for the competition. The team has been going over different aspects of the case and strategies.
The mock trial team is coached by local attorney Mark Mesler. The team and Mesler have been going over specific parts of the trial--open arguments, cross examinations and closing arguments.
"I tell them what I think," Mesler said. "I give them suggestions and pointers."
Mesler said he will be in the courtroom while the team is competing, silently cheering them on.
Laura Fowler, law student and Mock Trial Team member, said it is important for her career that she be a member of the team while she is a student.
"It's helping me learn how to conduct myself in the courtroom," she said.
Law student Bryan Hoss is also a Mock Trial member. He said Mock Trial is a great contribution to his overall law school goals.
"Mock Trial is one of the best ways to get real practical experience," Hoss said.
According to Troy Poetz, Chief Justice of the Moot Court, the competition will be held in various court houses downtown, including the Shelby County Courthouse and the Federal Courthouse.
Judges from the Tennessee Circuit Court, Shelby County Court, City Court, U.S. District Court and the Bankruptcy Court will help with the competition.
Law professor Lawrence Pivnick said, "Every judge in town will be participating."
The competition will be like a real trial. The trials will include witnesses, judges, jury and the team of lawyers. The witnesses in the trial will have scripted roles for the case.
This year's trial is a criminal case. The case is about an employee at a fast food restaurant. The employee was supposed to take the deposit to the bank, but the bank never recorded the money being entered into the account.
The competition will included 22 teams from Southeastern colleges and universities. The colleges include the University of North Carolina, University of Tennessee and University of Mississippi.
