School of Law to Host Regional Round of National Trial Competition

The University of Arkansas School of Law will host the Regional Championship of the 38^th Annual National Trial Competition for Region 11, on Thursday, Feb. 14 through Saturday, Feb. 16. The regional championship will bring together 22 teams from law schools in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Tennessee. The two winning teams will advance to the National Trial Competition.

Trial competitions provide an invaluable learning experience to law students by introducing them to members of the bench and bar and by exposing them to the nature of trial practice. The National Trial Competition, established in 1975, is the most prestigious annual competition in the U.S.  

Preliminary rounds of the regional championship will take place at five courthouses in Fayetteville, including the Historic Washington County Courthouse. Dates and times for the rounds are

• 1st Preliminary Rounds – Thursday, Feb. 14 at 1:30 pm
• 2nd Preliminary Rounds – Friday, Feb. 15 at 8:30 am
• 3rd Preliminary Rounds – Friday, Feb. 15 at 1:30pm
• Quarter-final Rounds – Saturday, Feb. 16 at 8:30am
• Final Rounds – Saturday, Feb. 16 at 1:30pm

The competition committee is seeking licensed attorneys to serve as volunteer judges for the each of the first four rounds of the championship. Lawyers interested in serving as judges should contact Scot Allison, Competition Chair, at csa006@email.uark.edu.

Each round of the competition also will require volunteers to serve as witnesses and timekeepers. Anyone interested in serving as a witness or timekeeper should contact Brooke Jackson at pbjackson10@gmail.com or Alexandra Kosmitis at alexandrakosmitis@gmail.com.

The regional championship is organized by the University of Arkansas School of Law Board of Advocates.