Baylor Law School to Host NITA Tournament of Champions Mock Trial Competition
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Contact: Eric Eckert, (254) 710-1964
WACO, Texas (Oct. 14, 2014) – Baylor University Law School will host the National Institute for Trial Advocacy's Tournament of Champions, one of the nation's premiere mock trial competitions, Oct. 17-19.
The Tournament of Champions is an invitation-only competition that showcases some of the nation's top law students from 16 of the top trial advocacy institutions. Baylor University won the tournament in 2012 and, as a result, was asked to host the competition this year.
"Baylor Law is pleased to host the Tournament of Champions National Mock Trial Competition," said Brad Toben, J.D., dean of the Law School. "Having won the TOC national championship two years ago in Chicago, this now gives us an opportunity to show the home of the Baylor Law program to the top law school advocacy programs in the nation that are competing."
Law students compete in teams of four, and each team will try both sides of a civil case – twice as plaintiffs and twice as defendants. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals. The case file was released to the teams in August to allow time to prepare.
In addition to the opportunity to compete against some of the nation's top law talent, participants also receive the benefit of intensive, one-on-one coaching from top-tier professionals in law school trial advocacy programs, said Kathy Serr, advocacy program coordinator for Baylor Law School.
Participating schools are invited based on a three-year performance record at the National Trial Competition and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America National Student Trial Advocacy Competition, and performances at prior Tournament of Champions competition. Baylor Law School qualified and earned an invitation for this year's competition but opted out in order to focus on its role as host.
"We anticipate, and are hoping, that all will be impressed by our hospitality and by the competition logistics," Toben said.
Participating schools include:
• Campbell University School of Law
• Chicago-Kent College of Law
• Georgetown University Law Center
• Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
• Loyola University Chicago School of Law
• Samford University, Cumberland School of Law
• Stetson University College of Law
• Syracuse University College of Law
• Temple University, Beasley School of Law
• University of Akron School of Law
• University of California, Berkeley School of Law
• University of Denver, Sturm College of Law
• University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
• University of Notre Dame Law School
• Washington University School of Law
• Yale Law School
The final round will be available for viewing live at baylor.edu/law/live beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.
ABOUT BAYLOR LAW SCHOOL
Established in 1857, Baylor Law School was the first law school in Texas and one of the first west of the Mississippi River. Today, the school has more than 7,000 living alumni. It is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Baylor Law School has a record of producing outstanding lawyers, many of whom decide upon a career in public service. The Law School boasts two governors, members or former members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, two former directors of the FBI, U.S. ambassadors, federal judges, justices of the Texas Supreme Court and members of the Texas Legislature, among its notable alumni. In its law specialties rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked Baylor Law's trial advocacy program as the third best in the nation. Baylor Law School is also ranked No. 51 in the magazine's 2015 edition of "America's Best Graduate Schools." The National Jurist ranks Baylor Law in its top 10 law schools for practical training, and second best value in private legal education in the nation. The Business Insider places Baylor Law among the top 50 law schools in the nation. Learn more at www.baylor.edu/law.