Mock Trial at DU Offers Students Practical Courtroom Experience

Mock Trial simulates real courtroom practices in a learning environment.  While many of DU’s Trial Advocacy courses teach these same skills in a classroom setting, DU’s Mock Trial activities allow students to practice and perform in a variety of venues, gaining detailed feedback from area practitioners.

The following are some of the most visible aspects of DU’s Mock Trial Programs:

The National Trial Team

DU is represented on the national stage in a variety of the nation’s best and highly competitive mock trial tournaments. Over the past several years, DU has built a tradition of success.  Trial team members practice and compete year-round, including over the summer semester, and constantly work to refine their skills as trial attorneys.  For more information, visit the trial team home page.

The Hoffman Cup

The Hoffman Cup is the premiere trial advocacy tournament at Sturm and is seeking the best mock trial teams in the school. The Hoffman Cup is Sturm’s most prestigious trial advocacy crown. The award is named for Sturm’s esteemed alumnus and Denver-based attorney, Daniel Hoffman. The Hoffman Cup Tournament is run by the The Sturm College of Law Trial Advocacy Department (TAD) and the Moot Court Board (MCB). Every team that desires to participate in The Cup will be given the opportunity to enter into the selection process. Selection to compete in the Hoffman Cup is based upon merit points which are earned based upon a student’s experience and advanced coursework.

Student Trial Lawyers Association

An entirely student run group, STLA is one of the largest and most active student groups on DU’s campus designed to give folks who are new to trial advocacy their first experiences in the courtroom.  STLA is organized by a dedicated group of student leaders and supported by judges and lawyers throughout the community who volunteer their time to give students valuable feedback.  For more information, sign up for STLA on their TWEN Site.

DU-CU Cup

Organized by DU’s Criminal Law Association, this competition is designed specifically for 1L’s, and only first-year students can participate.  Each Spring, students from both the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and the University of Colorado School of Law compete in a inter-school mock trial tournament, with the coveted DU-CU Cup going to the winning school, along with bragging rights for one year.  For more information, register on the Criminal Law Association’s TWEN site.