STLA Officers and Info
STLA Board Members | Intramural Mock Trial Program | Recommended Resources | Links
STLA Board
President: Alexandra Uri and Elizabeth Hersey
Vice-President: Phillip Meinkoth
Treasurer: Justin Vanderveer
Secretary: Kyla Wooldridge
Intramural Mock Trial Program
STLA’s signature event is an intramural mock trial program held every fall. Participating in this program is a great first step for any law student interested in learning how to be a trial advocate, developing skills to use in moot court board competitions, sharpening public speaking skills, or discovering how to apply legal concepts learned in the classroom. The program gives students excellent opportunities to develop and practice their trial skills in a non-competitive environment.
Program participants, usually 1st and occasionally 2nd year law students, are placed in teams of four members. Teams are given a problem that must be resolved in the courtroom. With the assistance of coaches, who are usually 2nd or 3rd year law students who are experienced trial advocates, teams prepare to represent their client. This preparation includes strategizing case theories, drafting opening and closing statements, developing direct and cross-examinations, and learning how to make evidentiary objections.
Teams develop and hone their advocacy skills by participating in three mock trial rounds against other teams. Throughout the three rounds, teams will represent both the prosecution and the defense. Program participants receive invaluable feedback from upper-level student, practicing trial attorneys, and judges.
Recommended Resources
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Federal Rules of Evidence
Available at the DU Bookstore and Online.
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Evidence Examples and Explanations, by Arthur Best
Available at the SBA Bookstore and the DU Bookstore.
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Modern Trial Advocacy, Law School Edition, by NITA
Available at the DU Bookstore
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NITA Federal Rules of Evidence with Objections
Available at the DU Bookstore .
Links