The Drake Law School AAJ Mock Trial teams competed in the Omaha regional tournament in mid-March. The Drake teams finished with a combined 9-1 record, with the sole loss resulting from one Drake team defeating the other in the regional final.
The AAJ Student Trial Advocacy Competition (formerly the ATLA Student Trial Advocacy Competition) is a national trial advocacy competition for law school students endowed by Baldwin & Baldwin, LLP. The AAJ mock trial competition comprises trials built around a fictitious fact scenario including pleadings, affidavits, exhibits, and other materials. Students perform opening and closing statements, direct and cross examinations, and portray witnesses. In each round, students present one side of a civil case.
 |
The Blue Team (pictured left), comprised of Anna Bergman, Sean Callison, Shannon Powers, and Andrew Powers, defeated teams from Creighton, Tulsa, and Colorado in the preliminary rounds, and earned the #3 seed for the knockout rounds. The Blue Team swept a team from Marquette in the semifinals to earn a bid in the regional final.
The White Team (pictured below), comprised of Rob Conklin, Katie Yaske, Amy Garver, and Luke Draisey, defeated teams from Creighton, Tulsa, and South Dakota in the preliminary rounds, and captured the #1 seed for the knockout rounds. The White Team swept a team from Oklahoma City in the semi-finals and defeated the Blue Team in the regional final by a combined score of 156 to 152, with two of the three ballots decided by a single point.
“I am so proud to be a part of a team that not only teaches invaluable trial skills, but that also teaches its members to be professional and courteous under pressure,” says Katie Yaske. “It has been a great experience to be a part of this program, and I feel so prepared to enter into the workforce with this experience under my belt.”
 |
The White Team advances to the national finals, which are in Pittsburgh in mid-April. This is the second consecutive regional title for Drake, and the third in the last four years. It is also the second time in the last four years that two teams from Drake have competed against each other for the regional crown.
“Special thanks goes to our coaches, Matthew Eslick, AS’02, LW’05, and Kurt Van Thomme, AS’96, LW’05, and alumni volunteers who helped judge and critique – the secret to Drake’s success in mock trial is that we’re standing on the shoulders of giants, and those that came before us continue to help and continue to build the program,” says Rob Conklin. “It’s an honor to participate and carry on the legacy.”
Read more about the Drake Law AAJ Mock Trial program.