Strong finish for Mock Trial (Photo courtesy SMU Mock Trial Team)

How often does SMU overcome Stanford, Dartmouth and Emory all in the same week? The Mock Trial team did just that after months preparation and uncertainty. The leadership of Jay Bishop and Lauren Leahy and the guidance of coach Kelley Reddell helped bring the team to victory last week.

Against teams who have had years of experience, SMU placed seventh in the National Competition in St. Petersburg Florida, and won the Spirit of American Mock Trial Association award for professionalism and kindness. The team was also honored as the “Best Newcomer Team” in the nation and Bishop walked away with the award for “Best Attorney and Witness.”

“It was as if every ounce of our hard work paid off,” Leahy said, “starting with our first round against Stanford. We were all in perfect sync.”

The Mock Trial team is now in the final stages of being approved as part of the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs program, and will begin fund raising in the early summer for next year’s competitions. If made part of the CCPA program, the Mock Trial team will still maintain its individual status rather than being designated to one school in the university, but students will have the ability to get the academic attention needed.

Election of officers is currently in progress and new members will be recruited starting in April.