The development of practical, real-world litigation skills in a courtroom setting is a crucial element of the St. Mary's experience. This belief is affirmed every day through the actions and accomplishments of our highly respected advocacy programs. These programs provide an ideal environment for students to develop and polish the trial and appellate courtroom skills that are the hallmark of great attorneys.

The St. Mary's advocacy programs are consistently recognized for competitive excellence on regional and national levels.

Advocacy at St. Mary's is comprised of three primary programs that allow students both academic and competitive opportunities to hone their skills prior to graduation. Each of these three programs take advantage of the facilities available through the new technology courtroom:

• Advocacy Curriculum
• Board of Advocates
• External Advocacy Program

Technology in the Courtroom

In 2006, St. Mary's University School of Law opened its newly renovated "high-tech" courtroom. The courtroom - one of the most technologically advanced courtrooms in the country - was updated with a modular design that allows for multiple configurations. It may be adjusted to accommodate jury trials or appellate court arguments. View and listen to Professor David A. Schlueter explain the use of technology at St. Mary's University School of Law Advocacy Program. Please click on the link below:
The Courtroom Technology Video

The courtroom features six cameras to record proceedings with the capability to output multiple camera angles to DVD, VHS, or webcast streaming. Thanks to a $300,000 donation from the AT&T Foundation, proceedings can be webcast and remote testimony can be video conferenced into the courtroom.

Electronic evidence can be fed into the courtroom presentation system from laptops, document cameras, DVDs or digital whiteboards. Evidence is presented on a large projection display, an in-wall plasma display, and to flatscreen monitors at the bench, tables and in the jury box. The video is fully routable for display on select sources, all sources, or none through an interactive touchscreen system. Studio-quality lighting is also fully computer controlled.

Current St. Mary's University School of Law students may access instructional Courtroom technology Video and PDF quick reference guide materials for the Trial Advocacy course by clicking on the following link: Intro to How to Use Courtroom Technology

Curriculum

The goal of the St. Mary's advocacy program is to prepare students to be effective advocates in courtroom settings. Classes focus on litigation skills that enable students to speak persuasively and build credibility with the court and jury. When students decide to come to St. Mary's, they know they will have many opportunities to excel in advocacy.

Trial Advocacy

Trial Advocacy classes are designed to give students an introduction to specific trial advocacy techniques such as voir dire examination of jury panels, opening statements, and direct examination of witnesses. The techniques are demonstrated by instructors and students are given opportunities to perform, and receive instruction concerning, exercises in many aspects of civil and criminal cases.

Current St. Mary's University School of Law students may access instructional webcast catalog materials for the Trial Advocacy course by clicking on the following links (login id and password required):

• Opening Statement #1
• Opening Statement #2
• Opening Statement #3
• Introducing a Document
• Using a Smartboard

Advanced Trial Advocacy

The advanced course builds upon Trial Advocacy and introduces students to additional techniques for presenting cases before a court using technology. This course addresses both the details of utilizing technology in the courtoom, as well as a strategic and evidentiary concerns surrounding the use of technology. Students are given extensive exposure to the latest advances in St. Mary's new high-tech courtroom.

Current St. Mary's University School of Law students may access instructional Courtroom technology Video and PDF quick reference guide materials for the Trial Advocacy course by clicking on the following link: Intro to How to Use Courtroom Technology

The Latest Competition News - Linda and Dave Schlueter First Year Moot Court Competition

All students at St. Mary's University School of Law are required to participate in a moot court competition in their first spring semester. This competition is the culmination of a brief-writing process and is a part of the legal writing classes. This early exposure allows students an advocacy-oriented perspective that enhances the traditional 1L coursework. The competition, which is run by the School’s Board of Advocates, is the culmination of a brief-writing process and is part of the legal writing classes. Congratulations to the team of Mr. Aaron Eckman and Ms. Kendra Harris, who won the annual First Year Moot Court Competition on March 29, 2010. The second place team was composed of Mr. Christopher Griffith and Mr. Karl Huber. Mr. Aaron Eckman was named as the best speaker. The judges for the final round will be the Hon. Edward Prado, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; the Hon. Xavier Rodriguez, Western District of Texas; and the Hon. Pamela Mathy, United States Magistrate Judge Pamela A. Mathy San Antonio Division of the Western District of Texas. This year the competition has been renamed for the Schlueters who have funded the awards for the competition. Schlueter is Hardy Professor of Law and director of Advocacy Programs, and his wife, who taught legal research and writing at St. Mary’s School of Law from 1983 to 1994, is president of Trinity Legal Center, a nonprofit legal foundation. Both have published nationally recognized treatises and been cited by the United States Supreme Court and numerous courts and legal commentators. Please click on the video below to view the event.

Board of Advocates

The Board of Advocates, also referred to as BOA, organizes and conducts competitions throughout the fall and spring semesters to give students of St. Mary's University School of Law practical experience in the art of advocacy. The BOA consists of 20 law students who are responsible for the organization of in-school advocacy competitions. The types of competitions that BOA sponsors include, but are not limited to: moot court, mock trial, and negotiations. 3Ls and 2Ls may participate as competitors in any of the fall and spring competitions, exclusive of First Year Moot Court. In addition, any law student may volunteer as clients, witnesses, and bailiffs at the fall and spring competitions. Selection to BOA is made at the end of each spring semester.

First Year Moot Court

All students at St. Mary's are required to participate in a moot court competition in their first spring semester. This competition is the culmination of a brief-writing process and is a part of the legal writing classes. This early exposure allows students an advocacy-oriented perspective that enhances the traditional 1L coursework.

Larry G. Hyden Mock Trial Competition

Held each fall, the Larry G. Hyden Competition provides students with an opportunity to participate in Mock Trial proceedings. Larry Hyden was a member of St. Mary's Law Journal and graduated from St. Mary's School of Law in 1974.

Renna and Jeff Embry Mock Trial Competition

The Renna and Jeff Embry Mock Trial Competition provides students with another opportunity to participate in mock trial during the spring semester. Renna and Jeff are honors graduates and both served as Associate Editors on the St. Mary's Law Journal. He was an active participant in mock trial and moot court competitions and was awarded the Patricia Scott Outstanding Advocate Award recognizing him as the outstanding trial advocate in the law school.

Client Counseling and Negotiations Competitions

The Board of Advocates also sponsors advocacy competitions that provide experience with Alternative Dispute Resolution ("ADR") and client relations. A large part of modern litigation practice takes place outside the courtoom yet is essential to real-world success.

BOARD OF ADVOCATES WEBCASTS

The Board of Advocates maintains an archive of past competitions. Scroll in the window below to view the recorded events.
View Full Screen

CONTACT US

For more information about the BOA and its activities, please feel free to contact:

Brett Hobbs
Chair, Board of Advocates
St. Mary's University School of Law
San Antonio, Texas 78228
(210) 436-3286
bhobbs@stmarytx.edu

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External Advocacy Program

The External Advocacy Program (EAP) allows students to compete against other teams in regional and national students. The St. Mary's teams have enjoyed tremendous success.

BLSA Mock Trial Team - Regional Finalists!

Congratulations to the BLSA, mock trial team. On January 16, 2010 the team completed at the Thurgood Marshall National Mock Trial Competition (Rocky Mountain region) in New Orleans, Louisiana. They finished as regional finalists, losing to the University of Texas in the final round. As regional finalists they have been invited to compete in the National Competition in March. The team consisted of Bridgette Clay, Kristin Kaye, Chris Johnson, and Lauren Cadillac. Two additional students, Kat Beltzer and Artessa House, helped prepare the team for the competition and provided invaluable assistance by filling in for the team members. The team was coached by Daryl Harris.

BLSA Mock Trial Champions

The St. Mary's BLSA Mock Trial Team won the 2008-2009 Rocky Mountain Region Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial competition in Colorado, on February 6th. They will compete in the Nationals, which will be held on March 18-22 in Irvine, California.

The team members are Nicole Hines-Glover, Lysette Rios, Brigett Clay, and Chris Johnson. Their coach is Mr. Daryl Harris, a St. Mary's graduate who works in the Bexar County District Attorney's office.

The team went 4 rounds undefeatedÑthey beat Texas Southern and the University of Texas in the preliminary rounds and broke #1 of 6 into break rounds. They beat Texas Weslyan, which put them into them in the semi-finals. They beat University of Tulsa in the semi-final round and the University of Oklahoma in the final round.

St Mary's Hosts National Arbitration Competition
January 23-24, 2009

On January 23, and 24, 2009, St. Mary's University School of Law hosted the 2009 National Finals of the Arbitration Competition, conducted by the ABA Law Student Division and the National Arbitration Forum. Fourteen teams (from eleven law schools), who had won or placed in their regional competitions, were represented.

All of the competition hearings were held on the Law School campus, with the invaluable assistance of the St. Mary's Law School Board of Advocates. The final round was held in the law school's high-tech courtroom. Chapman University School of Law (Orange County, California) won the championship, defeating the team from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law.

Professor Dave Schlueter, Director of Advocacy Programs, stated that the competition provided a wonderful opportunity to showcase the school's strong and nationally-recognized reputation as a school dedicated to advocacy skills. He added that the competition also provided the Board of Advocates with an opportunity to host coaches and students from other law schools.

Recent Moot Court Competition Wins

• Mack Kidd Administrative Law Moot Court Competition
  2008 Semi Finalist
  
  
• American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition
  2008 Regional Champions
  2007 Regional Champion
  2006 Regional Champion (Rated in top ten teams at Nationals)
  2004 Regional Finalist
  2003 Regional Finalist
  2002 National Champion / Best Oral Advocate
  
  
• Texas Young Lawyer's Association State Moot Court Competition
  2008 Semi Finalist
  2007 Semi-Finalist
  2006 State Champion / Best Oral Advocate
  2005 State Finalist
  

Recent Mock Trial Competition Wins

 

More information about the tryouts for this year's mock trial teams and information about competitions that St. Mary's will be entering this fall, will be posted periodically.

St. Mary's University School of Law will host the 2010 Lone Star Classic, an annual invitational mock trial tournament open to ABA-accredited law schools nationwide, on October 14 -16 in San Antonio, Texas.

Click on the window below to view the On-Demand Webcast

"Many of the schools that participated are considered top-ranked schools for their advocacy programs and are perennially successful at national competitions," said Dave Schlueter, St. Mary's law professor and tournament director. "We are proud to showcase San Antonio and St. Mary's University School of Law by hosting this competition."

The Board of Advocates will assist with many of the logistical challenges of hosting a national event, such as finding 90 lawyers to judge the preliminary and semi-final rounds in the competition and 50 students to serve as either bailiffs or marshals for each round.

Invitation
Entry Form
2008 Winners

For more information about the Lone Star Classic ®, please contact:

Professor David A. Schlueter
Hardy Professor of Law and Director of Advocacy Programs
St. Mary's University School of Law
San Antonio, Texas 78228
dschlueter@stmarytx.edu

Through a cooperative agreement with the State of Texas Office of Court Administration and the Supreme Court of Texas, St. Mary's provides live and on-demand webcasts of oral arguments heard before the Supreme Court of Texas. In addition, St. Mary's also provides webcasts of the State of Texas Judical Meetings and other speical programs held at the Supreme Court of Texas.

Contact Us

For information about the advocacy programs at St. Mary's University School of Law, please contact:

Professor David A. Schlueter
Hardy Professor of Law and Director of Advocacy Programs
St. Mary's University School of Law
San Antonio, Texas 78228
dschlueter@stmarytx.edu

For information about the student Board of Advocates at St. Mary's please contact:

Brett Hobbs
Chair, Board of Advocates
St. Mary's University School of Law
San Antonio, Texas 78228
(210) 436-3286
bhobbs@stmarytx.edu