As a member of the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) Wittenberg joins hundreds of other colleges and universities competing to become the next AMTA national champion. Each fall, AMTA releases a mock trial case which teams nationwide work through in order to present the best possible case as both the Plaintiff and the Defense.
Students who participate in mock trial at Wittenberg may be eligible to take mock trial as a class and earn academic credit. Class meetings are generally Tuesday and Thursday evenings throughout the season. The mock trial season lasts from August until April and affords students the opportunity to travel to compete in a variety of tournaments and competitions. Students that compete in mock trial have the opportunity to win both team and individual awards, and some law schools have begun offering scholarships tied to mock trial performance.
Mock trial is not just for students considering law school. It is an exciting and fun activity for all students and provides opportunities to improve skills in public speaking, debate, critical thinking, acting, teamwork and more. Many mock trial alums choose to enter the workforce directly upon graduation, pursue graduate studies in a field other than law, or enter public service. Whatever career path they choose, mock trial provides the skills and confidence to succeed after the conclusion of undergraduate studies.
Tryouts for the team are held each spring with successful candidates invited to join the team the following fall. A limited number of spots may also be filled fall semester. Any student interested in joining the team should contact Chris Leapley at leapleyc@352396.com.
During the 2023-24 school year, Wittenberg's Mock Trial team participated in several competitions between October and April.
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About the Coach
Chris Leapley joined Wittenberg University as the Mock Trial Coach and Pre-Law Advisor in the fall of 2023. He brings nearly two decades of civil litigation experience to the position. A former mock trial competitor, coach and judge himself, Leapley is passionate about teaching students how to be better advocates and critical thinkers. In addition to serving as the Mock Trial Coach, Mr. Leapley advises Wittenberg students considering law school and teaches law-based courses on campus. In addition to his duties at Wittenberg, Mr. Leapley continues to be involved with the representation of public entities involved in a wide of active litigation, including disputes arising out of constitutional and civil rights matters, land-use, tort liability, environmental disputes, and employment and employee benefit disputes.
Pictured: Students in the Pre-Law Society attended the Clark County Bar Association's Law Day Luncheon today. Law Day was created by President Eisenhower in 1958 to celebrate the Rule of Law in our society and the importance of being mindful of the role that the law plays in maintaining a free society. The Clark County Bar has held an annual luncheon for the past 28 years to bring together area attorneys, judges and elected officials. The 2024 speaker was the Honorable Christopher Epley, who is the presiding judge of the 2nd District Court of Appeals.