Campbell Law advocates head to Hofstra Mock Trial Competition for the first time

Campbell Law advocates will compete in the Hofstra Medical Legal Mock Trial Competition from Nov. 1 – Nov. 3 in Hempstead, New York. The competition is hosted by the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.

Third-year students Chamberlain Collier, Justin Hill and Jake Terrell and second-year students Kelsey Myers and Joshua Steedly  are trying the case. The team is coached by Casey Peaden. This is the first year that Campbell University School of Law will compete at this competition that is only in its second year, according to organizers.

The Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, in conjunction with the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell created a tournament focused on the impact expert witnesses can have on trial outcomes, according to the website.

“An expert witness will be assigned to each school for each side of the case upon release of the fact pattern. The witness will be a student from our Medical School and will be prepared by the competitors via skype/phone/videoconference or email. The expert witness may be cross examined on any relevant material to their testimony, including literature not contained in the fact pattern. Student advocates must direct and cross-examine expert witnesses using every available tool – including qualifications, methodology, proper application, bias, etc.”

The tournament selects 10 law schools and mock trial coaches with a history of success in mock trial competitions to compete over a three-day period.