Introduction

The GW Law Mock Trial Board is pleased to announce a new partnership with one of the nation’s leading litigation firms— HollingsworthLLP. HollingsworthLLP has generously agreed to sponsor our internal competition for 1L students for the next five years.

The new competition, the HollingsworthLLP First-Year Mock Trial Competition, will be hosted for the first time in the Spring 2024 semester. The first day of the competition will be hosted at a local courthouse, and the second day at GW Law. Semi-finalists will be paired with HollingsworthLLP attorneys as coaches for one week, and will compete for the Championship at the courtroom in HollingsworthLLP’s office in Washington, D.C.—with HollingsworthLLP attorneys serving as judges.

We are excited for this partnership with HollingsworthLLP!

1L students compete as a team of four students in the HollingsworthLLP First-Year Mock Trial Competition. A full case packet is given to all competitors and the teams of two are instructed to prepare both sides of the case, either plaintiff/prosecution or defense. For each side, two students will be attorneys and two will be witnesses, alternating for each side. Each team is assigned an individual student coach that will work with the competitors to help them develop a case theory, instruct them on the logistics of a mock trial competition, and set up scrimmages with other teams. Student coaches are Board members who have usually taken classes in evidence and trial advocacy, or competed in external trial competitions. Tip sessions and office hours are also held to give competitors extra help along the way.

Competitors are judged by local practitioners, professors, other legal professionals, and Board members. The competition runs all day and offers Board  membership to those students who display exemplary trial skills and professionalism. The best competitors advance to compete in semi-finals rounds and one final round of the competition, hosted at the courtroom in HollingsworthLLP’s office in Washington, D.C.

Introduction

The Upper-Level Competition is open to all GW students who are not first-year students. The Upper-Level is also the avenue for transfer students interested in joining the Board achieve membership, however, current board members may also participate. Unlike the First-Year Competition, those students who compete in the Upper-Level receive one academic credit for their participation, regardless of whether they advance further in the competition or make the Board.

Teams of two are required to prepare both sides, plaintiff and defense, of the assigned case packet. Teams are also responsible for securing and prepping volunteer witnesses. Volunteering to be a witness in the Upper-Level Competition is a great opportunity for 1L students to be involved in a trial competition, and learn about what to expect from the First-Year Competition in the spring. This year, George Washington is offering an optional course alongside the Upper-Level Competition. Taught by local practitioner, Mark Shaffer, the course will focus on basic trial skills and is tailored to the assigned case packet.

The competition takes place in October and is held at the law school. Student teams compete twice, once for each side, and are judged by local practitioners, professors, other legal professionals, and Board members. The best competitors advance to compete in semi-final rounds and one final round of the competition, and one outstanding competitor receives an award for Best Advocate.