RALEIGH – The first Campbell Law School Mock Trial Summer Workshop is set to be held virtually July 18-19, 2020 via Zoom.
Professor Tony Ghiotto, director of the law school’s award-winning Advocacy Program, said Campbell Law advocates are scheduled to compete in a host of mock trial competitions during the upcoming school year. Campbell Law’s Advocacy Program has been ranked among the very best in the country by multiple publications and has won one international championship and nine national championships in student advocacy competitions since 2012.
“We are anxious to identify the next group of outstanding trial advocates to build on our Advocacy Program’s established stellar performance,” he said. “Last year our teams competed in Alabama, California, Colorado, New York, South Carolina, Texas and Washington, D.C., as well as virtually.”
The workshop – developed by Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Dan Tilly, Wallace Advocacy Fellow Maurizo Lewis-Streit ’19, former Wallace Advocacy Fellow Kimberly Dixon ’15 and 2019 Top Gun Champion Tatiana Terry ’19 – is designed to provide participating students with comprehensive training, tools and guidance to assist in the development of their trial advocacy skills.
“Rising 3L student Daniel Nelson was coached by Associate Dean Tilly and I, in the previous Spring semester to compete in the South Texas Mock Trial Challenge, after he had stellar success competing at the National Trial Competition (NTC),” Terry said. “Daniel suggested the idea of a workshop to us both after his competition was unfortunately cancelled due to COVID-19. We instantly loved the idea because it is just a fantastic way to engage, empower, and educate our students.”
The workshop is available to all rising second- and third-year Campbell Law students, and no prior trial advocacy experience is required, Terry said.
“My personal dream has always been to help make Campbell Law’s Advocacy Program a powerhouse in all areas,” she said. “Professor Ghiotto has been tremendous jumping right into his role as director and I am so grateful for his support to helped finalize this workshop.”
All interested students must review the case of Amari Young v. American Sports Network, which will be sent to all registered participants on July 10, 2020. It is expected that each student will thoroughly read the case and be prepared to discuss varying aspects of it with their workshop leaders. Registration is limited to the first 125 students and will close July 10, 2020, at 5 p.m., with no exceptions. Due to concerns caused by the outbreak of COVID-19, this workshop will be virtual and a Zoom link will be distributed to all registered participants.
Please access the registration portal at the following clickable link: https://cuweb.wufoo.com/forms/rfhh94707i4xnv/
“The skills acquired during this workshop will aid students in their preparation for mock trial team tryouts, should they desire to be an advocate, and further Campbell Law’s winning tradition and commitment to developing competent and professional advocates,” Ghiotto added. “The hope is to make this workshop an annual summer event and by utilizing both our outstanding faculty and amazing alumni maintaining our superb advocacy program.”
ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW
Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion, and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. Among its accolades, the school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation’s top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation’s best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts more than 4,200 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2019, Campbell Law celebrated 40 years of graduating legal leaders and 10 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina’s Capital City.