Campus News

Law students win at South Texas Mock Trial Challenge

(From left) Robert Harrison, Shanice Echols, Lauren Lutton and Daniel Lockaby captured the national title in the 2018 South Texas Mock Trial Challenge.

UGA School of Law wins national mock trial tournament and Intrastate Moot Court Competition.

The University of Georgia School of Law recently won the national South Texas Mock Trial Challenge and the Intrastate Moot Court Competition. These wins bring the total national titles for UGA for the 2017-18 season to three in addition to a coveted state title.

Third-year law student Lauren E. Lutton and second-year law students Shanice Echols, Robert Harrison II and C. Daniel Lockaby captured the national title in the 2018 South Texas Mock Trial Challenge. Lutton was recognized for her oral skills in the preliminary rounds and was named the best advocate for the final round.

The School of Law team was undefeated in the competition overcoming teams from the law schools at Georgia State University, Campbell University and the University of Missouri at Kansas City as well as Charleston Law School.

Notably, this is the second year in a row that UGA has won this national competition and the third time in five years that Georgia has brought home the championship trophy.

“Our South Texas mock trial team was outstanding from the start, and they just got better and better with each and every round,” School of Law Director of Advocacy Kellie Casey said.

In the 2018 Intrastate Moot Court Competition, second-year law students (from left) Timia Skelton, Thomas Grantham and Anna Braue beat teams from Georgia State University in the final and semifinal rounds to bring home the state title.

In the 2018 Intrastate Moot Court Competition, second-year law students Anna C. Braue, Thomas Grantham and Timia Skelton beat teams from Georgia State University in the final and semifinal rounds to bring home the state title.

All four of Georgia’s law schools field two teams in this annual Peach State courtroom rivalry. UGA’s second team included second-year law students Dymond Anthony, Cliffton Jacques and Conner Rose.

“Winning the state trophy is always special to our advocacy program as the state of Georgia has the most competitive moot court teams in the country,” Casey said. “We are glad to have the championship trophy back in our trophy case!”

UGA last won this tournament in 2016, and in the last 10 years UGA has captured the state title seven times.

The other national advocacy titles won this academic year include the 8th Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court Competition and the 2018 Charleston School of Law National Moot Court Competition.

“These successes demonstrate the law school’s commitment to preparing its students for real-world practice while connecting them to professionals and leaders in the legal community – who in this case serve as competition judges – through a variety of different opportunities,” law school Dean Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge said.

UGA School of Law
Established in 1859, the School of Law is consistently regarded as one of the nation’s top law schools. The school is proud of its longstanding commitment to preparing the next generation of legal leaders and ensuring a strong return on investment for its three degrees – the Juris Doctor, the Master of Laws and the Master in the Study of Law. The school’s accomplished faculty includes nationally and internationally renowned scholars, and its more than 10,000 living graduates are leading figures in law, business and public service throughout the world. Connecting students to these thought leaders and opportunities to serve state and society is central to the school’s mission.