Joan Lee is a 3L that chose to get involved in Mock Trial in Fall 2021—the beginning of her second year at KU Law. Since then, Lee has learned more about representing a client, gained confidence in public speaking and acquired a baseline for courtroom etiquette as she participated in both in-house and national competitions. The experience has helped solidify …
Working on a felony jury trial as a law student
Rising 3L Kevin Salazar draws on Mock Trial, Traffic Court experience for work on real-world cases Kevin Salazar is a rising third-year law student at the University of Kansas School of Law. This summer, he is interning as a law clerk in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Salazar shared his experience working on a felony jury trial as a law …
Recent Graduate Spotlight: Diana Jarek provides access to justice for D.C. tenants
Diana Jarek has always known her “why” but has struggled to find her “how.” After earning her undergraduate degrees in political science and government, and Middle Eastern studies from the University of Arkansas in 2013, Jarek entered the campaign world, organizing for a U.S. Senate race. She then switched paths and attended graduate school at Georgetown University to study conflict …
Graduate Profile: Zachary Kelsay, L’21
Moot court, mock trial shaped student’s KU Law experience Zachary Kelsay, L’21, has been practicing advocacy skills in mock trial competitions since his undergraduate days. When moot court and mock trial contests moved online this year, Kelsay took on the new challenge. “It was fun to learn a new way to litigate because none of the books on litigation provided …
From weekend competitors to Jayhawk lawyers-in-training
Mock trial prepares undergraduates for law school KU Law provides ample opportunities for students to gain hands-on courtroom experience, but for some future Jayhawk lawyers, the training began long before stepping foot in Green Hall. KU is home to a growing mock trial program that allows undergraduate students of all academic majors to participate in simulated courtroom trials. For some …
Mock Trial introduces undergrads to courtroom careers
Law school may be a few years away, but some KU undergrads are building their oral advocacy skills and gaining courtroom experience before they even finish their bachelor’s degrees. The KU Mock Trial team competes in simulated courtroom trials, pitting their analysis and advocacy skills against teams from universities across the country. “At each competition you portray both sides in …