University of Texas School of Law - Peregrinus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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Texas Invitational Mock Trial Tournament This fall, the University of Texas School of Law once again proved its commitment to the advancement of trial advocacy skills by sponsoring the First Annual Texas Invitational Mock Trial Tournament. Traditionally, UT students had participated in the Thclcn, Marrin, Johnson and Bridges Intcrscholastic Mock Trial Competition in the fall. The fall of 1991, however, was the last year that competition was held, so the UT Board of Advocates stepped in to fill the gap. The Texas Invitational Tournament will be held in the fall of each coming year at the University of Texas. It is a statewide tournament and all Texas law schools are invited to participate. This first year of the competition was extremely successful, drawing teams from all across Texas including Baylor University, the University of Houston, South Texas, Southern Methodist University, Texas Wesleyan University and, of course, the University of'Texas. All of the schools sent two teams each, so it by Laura Parchman was quite a turnout. The University of Texas prepared two teams of both second- and third-year law students. Michael Ramirez, Sally Starnes, Mike Ortega and Elizabeth Camarillo represented UT on Team One, and Robert May, Kim Deck, Tracy Sneed and William Heyer were on Team Two. Each team member had an opportunity to compete as an advocate, with one pair always acting as plaintiffs attorneys, and one pair as defense attorneys. When not acting as advocates, team members witnessed for each other, making each stage of the competition a true team effort. Alternates for the tournament competition were Sandra Garza and Matthew Hcn-neman, who are both members of the Board of Advocates. This year’s tournament was held the weekend of November 13-15, 1992. Upon arriving in town, the teams had a chance to meet with each other and talk about the upcoming competition at a small reception held in the Main Lobby of the UT Law School. The next day, the competition began with three preliminary rounds. Each team had a chance to compete three times, and four teams went on to the semi-final round after reseeding from the preliminary rounds. Teams from Baylor University and the University of Houston went on to the final round, where Baylor took the First Annual Texas Invitational trophy despite fierce competition from Houston. UT team members vow to take the trophy in next year’s Texas Invitational. Pkttot An IKcmj, Texas Invitational Mock Trial — 9

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Criminal Defense Clinic Starts 20th Year by Robert Riojas For twenty years the Criminal Defense Clinic has afforded students with an opportunity to practice firsthand the workings of the Texas criminal justice system, giving future attorneys practical courtroom experience as they consult and represent actual defendants charged with misdemeanor crimes. In addition, the Clinic serves a real-world need by providing indigent defendants free legal counsel which they could not otherwise afford. According to Professor Robert O. Dawson, director, the Criminal Defense Clinic was started to fill the gap between practical knowledge and that which was being taught in law schools. Law students were simply unskilled in terms of realistic applications of their legal knowledge. The structure of the Clinic serves to fill this gap. The Criminal Defense Clinic has two components: first, a classroom instruction taught by four supervising attorneys and second, actual representation of clients involving interviewing, investigation, negotiation. A significant bonus comes in the form of real courtroom contact. Clients are assigned to the Clinic on the recommendation of judges, primarily sitting in Travis County. Professor Dawson stresses the educational justification of the Clinic and notes that students are provided a mix of cases including DWIs, as- saults, and thefts. Students taking the Clinic in the fall or spring receive six credits; those taking the Clinic in the summer receive five. Another attractive feature of the Clinic is its grading. The course is pass-fail and there is no paper or examination. Students in the course receive a Student Bar Card which allows them to actually litigate in the courtroom. The supervising attorneys, although required to be present in adversarial proceedings, play only an observational role. The Clinic is open to all students, regardless of grades, who have completed at least 45 hours of law school and who demonstrate an interest in criminal law. 8 — Criminal Defease Clinic

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BOARD OF ADVOCATES MOCK TRIAL COMPETITIONS Carl W. H ilton Endowed Fall Fall Mock Trial Competition (Frelontti bj Gardrre Sc Wynne) Seed Cole .• Wiiium Meter Beat Advocate: William I lever VUI. Hamilton. Koch Knox Endowed Fall Senior Mock Trial Da.vd Code David Hugm Beat Advocate: Uavid I login l-ocke Purnell Rain Harrell Endowed Spring Novice Mock Trial Competition Damei Herlnl A- Steven Cmber Beat Advocate: Monel llerink Slraahurger It Price Endowed Spring Senior Meek Trial Alan Barnet Sc Sally Starnea Ben Advocate: Alan Barnet INTERSCIIOLASTIC TEAMS MOCK TRIAL TEAMS Tcxaa Invitational laleracholaatic Mock Trial Tram Tmm V it Kiel Ramirer Sally Starnet Rlatclh Camarillo Mike Ortega Tran 2 Kimberly Deck Rcbcrt May WiUiari lleyer T racy Seeed Altmaut $a-xlra Cam Matt Mennetnan Coach: Jeffrey Thootpton American Journal of Criminal Lou Criminal lav. Mock Trial Michael Rodrigucc Sc Glen Greene Beat Advocate: Michael Rodrigue BOA APPELLATE COMPETITIONS Gibb. Sc Ratliff Endowed Fall Mooc Court N. Reid Ncutrilrt Sc Chria Brown Beat Advocate: h nrat Vi. Kohnke Bcvc Brief: Rich llarrit Don Harvey Suvman Godfrey Endowed Spring Mont Conn 1-oei Lin Kim Shull Hear Advocate: Kim Shultz Beat Beef: loci EU» Sc Kim Shulu I had T. Ilutchecon Endowed Fcruhlaw Moot Court Competition Section I: Jerome Swindell Section 2: Jamea Baker Section J: Michael Smgley Section 4: Phibp I'raitunci Section y Drew Ford BOA ADVOCACY COMPETITIONS Alternate Ditpuir Revolution Competition Ron Rodiigur It Mike Oftrga Client Cnunvrling Competition Kathleen Bone Sc Chrntine Burgrtt Voir Dire predion Dan Gurwitz Sc Shawn Kirkaey Negotiation Competition David Geneder Sc George Roach National Mock Trial Inn Spurouacd by Jcmcv. Jonca Sc Curry and M right Sc Greenhill Tmm I Alan Banna Elizabeth Camarillo Michael Ramirer Tmm 2 Cathy Potter Jeff tfale Alirrmla Elizabeth Camarillo Carolnvr IXi ier Mrttill Coochea: Scott it Beth O mun AT LA Mock 1 rial learn Sponsored by Donald L. Davit Teen Shawn Kirktey Robert May Mike Ortega Sally Scarnrt Regional Scmiliixalnti Tmm 2 Ruby Holton Nicole Batin Matt Itenneman William lleyer Regional Semifinjl .tr. Coach: Randy I lowry Tournament of Champion. Tram Spontorcd by Cow lev k Ihonpon Cathy Fatter Jeff Hale Robert May Caroline Dozier Merrill Michael Ramirez Cctachea: Beth Sc Scott Orrvun • Beat Witnett 10 — Mock Trial