Who are we?

The National Trial Team is a highly competitive student organization, which travels and competes annually in a number of prestigious trial tournaments across the country. The team is advised and coached by Jeffrey Breit, an accomplished trial lawyer and past president of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA).

Membership

Membership on the National Trial Team is extremely competitive and limited to those students who are accepted during an annual Selection Tournament. No more than twelve members are admitted to the Team each year. Team members are required to participate in a comprehensive development program, and members have the opportunity to receive academic credit for courses designed specifically for the National Trial Team and taught by the Team's advisor. Members gain extensive training in all levels of trial advocacy, from evidentiary objections and fundamental trial skills to sophisticated trial strategy and persuasion.

Competition

The National Trial Team is consistently invited to participate in the most prestigious trial competitions in the country. The Team's list of tournaments includes the National Trial Competition, Puerto Rico Trial Advocacy Competition, William W. Daniel National Invitational Mock Trial Competition, Gourley Trial Competition, the American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition, and the Michigan State University National Trial Competition.

Members have been honored for individual performances during competitions (including Best Overall Advocate), and the Team has enjoyed a number of successes throughout the past years, including:

National Trial Team Board

Chief Counsel

Michael Nicholas

Finance Counsel

Barbara Watkins

Tournament Counsel

Brianna Coakley

Fundraising and Publicity Counsel

Amanda Ritucci-Chinni

Lead Recruitment Counsel

Kia King & Andrew English

Vice Recruitment Counsel

Lindsay Naiman

Lead Development Counsel

Jessica Hass

Vice Development Counsel

Brian Cannon