National Trial Competition Team Hits the Road

Four students will represent the University of Arkansas School of Law at the National Trial Competition.  One of the largest and most prestigious competitions in the country, the National Trial Competition is sponsored by the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Texas Young Lawyers Association.

The trial team members include William Buckley of Athens, Tenn.; Austin Easley of Forrest City, Ark.;  David Mitchell of Little Rock, Ark.;  and Taylor White of Hot Springs, Ark.  They were selected from among applicants based on their performance during the school’s internal trial competition, their application and resume, and an interview by a selection committee composed of faculty, coaches, and students.

Students who wish to engage in trial practice after graduation were strongly encouraged to apply for the traveling teams.  “Participation in the trial teams and the competitions will raise your trial skills well beyond their current level,” said Professor Michael Mullane.

This year’s case involves a criminal trial centered on a hypothetical defendant.  He is accused of one count of Conspiracy to Conduct a Dog Fighting Contest and one count of Conspiracy to Purchase a Dog for the Purpose of Entering the Dog in a Dog Fighting Contest.

The upcoming competition will be held in two parts.  The regional rounds of the competition will be hosted by the Oklahoma City University School of Law from February 12-15.  If the team advances to the finals, those will be held in San Antonio, Texas, from March 25-28.

Due to the generosity of those sponsoring the National Trial Competition teams, the four competing team members also will receive scholarships.  Later this year, the two teams also will participate in the Henry Wood Trial Competition against their counterparts from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Contact:

Andy Albertson, director of communications
School of Law
(479) 575-6111, aalbert@uark.edu