The Mock Trial Association is an academic organization under largely student governance which provides any interested students with the unique opportunity to learn and practice trial advocacy skills and receive feedback from practicing attorneys and sitting judges. Each year, the Mock Trial Association receives a fictional legal case from the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) and works collaboratively to put on the case at competitions throughout the region. Students will develop public speaking and presentation skills by presenting the case, including examining witnesses, delivering opening statements and closing arguments, and arguing evidentiary matters, as well as portraying witnesses in a courtroom setting.
The Mock Trial Association forms a competition team each year that travels to other universities to compete against some of the top schools in the country. Quinnipiac has placed at multiple tournaments in recent years, including a first-place finish in 2017, and has twice moved on from the nationwide AMTA Regional Competition to compete at the Opening Round Championship Series, including back-to-back advancements in 2018 and 2019. In the past few years, our competitors have won numerous individual awards for outstanding attorney roles and outstanding witness roles at both invitational and regional tournaments. In addition, the Association hosts a mock trial tournament, the Bobcat Invitational, each January, at which schools from throughout the region compete.
There are two courses offered for credit that relate to the Mock Trial Association and students who are interested in joining the Mock Trial Association are strongly encouraged to take one or both of them. LE 160, Competitive Mock Trial, is offered in the fall semester and is geared towards preparing for competitions using the AMTA case in a given year. It may be taken up to three times for credit. LE 150, Introduction to Mock Trial, is offered in the spring semester and is designed to give students an overview of mock trial and to develop speaking and presentation skills in the courtroom setting. Interested students do not need to take these courses before joining the Association.
To learn more, you are encouraged to contact:
Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox – Faculty Advisor; sujata.gadkar-wilcox@quinnipiac.edu
James Cresswell – Faculty Advisor and Coach; james.cresswell@quinnipiac.edu
Association General Email Address – mocktrial.quinnipiac@gmail.com
The 2022 – 2023 Executive Board:
CJ Benedetti – President
Torrie Fitzpatrick – Vice President
Jocelyn Correa – Director of Finance
Ruth DelVecchio – Director of Administration
Billy Reynolds – Tournament Director
Anusha Memon – Director of Membership Engagement
