IMPORTANT DATES
Learning Lunch – February 2, 2023 @ 12:00PM
Registration Starts – February 2, 2023 @ 6:00PM
Registration Ends – CLOSED
Problem Release – February 10, 2023
Competition – February 17-19
If you no longer wish to participate in the competition, you must contact Katrina Schydlower no later than February 5, 2023 @ 11:59PM.
Learn More:
Learning Lunch recording Here.
Learning Lunch slides Here.
Witness and Partner Search: If you are looking for a partner or witnesses, or if you want to be a witness, put your information on this spreadsheet:
How to Register:
Due to overwhelming responses, we have hit the overall capacity for the competition. Registration is now closed.
Step 1
Pay for your team on PayPal and make sure to save your confirmation number. There are 3 options: (1) $20 if both team members are also Advocates members, (2) $100 if both team members are non-Advocates members, or (3) $60 in one person is member and one is not.
**Please note in the payment form the names of each teammate and “Hippard Novice Mock Trial”**
Step 2
Fill out this Google Form.
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
The Advocates host two James J. Hippard Novice Mock Trial competitions during the academic year: the Hippard Open (in the Fall Semester) and the Hippard Novice (in the Spring Semester).
A Hippard Mock Trial Competition Team is composed of two UHLC students who prepare and argue the case for both sides, including opening statements, direct and cross examinations, and closing arguments. Each team must also recruit witnesses to provide the live testimony. Competition rounds are judged by volunteers from the Houston legal community, who frequently offer competitors feedback at the end of their rounds to help them improve their skills. Teams are scored on their Motion In Limine, opening statements, direct & cross examinations, closing arguments, objections, courtroom presence, and demeanor.
HIPPARD NOVICE MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION ELIGIBILITY (Spring Semester)
Any UHLC student who is in their first year of study (e.g. 1Ls or F.L.L.M.s in their first year).
COURSE CREDIT & PRIZES
UHLC students can earn 1 hour of non-substantive competition credit by (1) making a good-faith effort in the Competition and (2) completing and timely submitting the writing assignment for the Competition that is described in the Competition Rules.
Click here to complete a Competition Credit Petition.
The Competition Teams that advance to the Final Round will receive a cash prize. The Best Speaker in the Final Round of each competition will also be recognized.
Tournament Format
The tournament will be conducted in-person and have a limited amount of teams, consisting of 2 advocates and 2 volunteer witnesses. No person who has achieved a juris doctorate, or its equivalent, or has/is been a member of a law school mock trial team, may act as a witness for any competitor. The round will have pretrial motions, opening statements, direct examinations, cross-examinations, and closing statements. You are required to dress in professional business attire. Competitors must check in 30 minutes before the round begins, so that they may address any questions or concerns they have prior to the round.
INFORMATION SESSION
The information session will go over a general overview of the rules of evidence, spotting objections, opening statements, direct/cross-examinations, closing statements, trial decorum, zoom decorum, and any other questions that competitors may have. The goal of the information session is to provide competitors with an understanding of advocacy in the trial setting.
MORE INFORMATION
Do you have questions or need more information? Email Katrina Schydlower, Director of the Hippard Novice Competition.