PREPARING LAW STUDENTS FOR PRACTICE THROUGH SKILLS COMPETITIONS
PREPARING LAW STUDENTS FOR PRACTICE THROUGH SKILLS COMPETITIONS
KATHRYN R. L. RAND Dean, University of North Dakota School of Law
Though“ practice ready” is the term commonly used to describe the ideal law school graduate, a more accurate term might be“ practice prepared”— law graduates who have the knowledge, skills, and values required of an entry-level attorney. Our profession is complex and dynamic, so there’ s no doubt that even the brightest new graduates will need guidance from more senior attorneys early in their careers.
Nevertheless, legal education has come a long way in terms of integrating skills into the curriculum. Law students practice interviewing clients, drafting contracts and other legal documents, negotiating deals, drafting legislation, conducting discovery and depositions, commenting on proposed administrative rules, trying cases, and preparing and arguing appeals. That’ s a far cry from my days as a new law graduate, when I had to admit to my first employer that I didn’ t know how to draft a complaint because I had never seen one.
At UND School of Law, one of the many ways we’ ve increased skills instruction throughout our curriculum is by incorporating skills competitions. Moot court and mock trial competitions help students to hone strong writing and oral advocacy skills, sharpen their power to apply law to facts in a way that serves a client’ s interests, improve their ability to function well under pressure, increase their comfort in courtroom and other practice settings, and build professional self-sufficiency and self-confidence. These skills translate to all areas of practice, even if students don’ t choose litigation as a career path.
In addition to the traditional internal moot court competition held each fall, our students compete in regional and national trial and moot court competitions each spring. It’ s become a much-anticipated annual event at the School of Law to spotlight our students’ performance at the spring skills competitions, and to express our gratitude for the many sitting judges and practicing attorneys who help them prepare for competition.
This year, UND School of Law students participated in numerous moot court competitions: National Cultural Heritage Competition, DePaul University College of Law. The UND team, Morgan Wagner and Meggi Ihland, coached by Jesse Maier, advanced to the Sweet Sixteen( octofinals).
National Energy and Sustainability Competition, West Virginia School of Law. Two UND teams coached by Kiara Kraus-Parr competed, Samantha Olson and Amanda Tucker, and Tyler Erickson and Tom Burckhard. Tyler and Tom advanced to the Sweet Sixteen( octofinals).
Gabrielli National Family Moot Court Competition, Albany Law School. Two UND teams coached by Professor Kirsten Dauphinais competed, Jack Yunker and Robert Vallie, and Ariana Meyers and Rue Muza. Ariana and Rue advanced to the Elite Eight( quarterfinals), and Ariana won the award for Second Best Oralist in the Competition.
Ruby R. Vale Corporate Competition, Delaware Law School. The UND team of Jordan Selinger and Evan Nelson, coached by Professor Alexandra Sickler and Jonathan Sickler, advanced to the Elite Eight( quarterfinals).
And, as I wrote this, we were sending two UND teams to the Herbert Wechsler National Criminal Competition at Buffalo Law School. Nicholas Christensen and Kylie Oversen, and Matthew Dearth and Alyssa Lovas, coached by Sam Gereszek, competed there in early April.
UND School of Law students also competed in two mock trial competitions:
The UND Trial Team, divided into two competition teams, competed at the National Trial Competition Region 8 competition in Madison, Wisconsin. The UND“ white” team, made up of Karlei Neufeld, Patty Castro, and Erin Ferry faced two William Mitchell / Hamline teams in rounds one and two. Each round resulted in a split
22 THE GAVEL