At the end of each semester in BA-303, Legal Environment of Business, students participate in a graded “mock trial” practical exercise. In this practical case study, the plaintiff, “Peter Brady,” is suing for injuries received as a result of his slip and fall in a retail store. The purpose of the mock trial is to familiarize students with basics aspects of civil trials, legal defenses, rules of evidence, and basic court-room advocacy.
The exercise includes eyewitness, character, and expert witnesses while focusing upon four distinct aspects of a civil trial: opening statements, cross examinations, direct examinations, and closing arguments. Over five class sessions, students learn fundamental trial techniques, rules of evidence, and the handling of exhibits. Student “lawyers” must also develop a theme or strategy for the case, interview witnesses, and gather facts in order to be prepared for their portion of the trial.
At the conclusion of the trials, the best student advocate in each section of twenty students was awarded the “Miles K. Davis – Most Effective Student Advocate Award” as well as a gift certificate from Starbucks. Pictured above, outstanding student winners this semester were Caoimhe Sweeney (Belfast, Northern Ireland),Vanille Launay (Nantes, France), Anna Lopynski (Fairfax, Virginia) and Madison Albornaz (Ellicott City, Maryland).