Join the Trial Team

Do you want to be a great advocate?
Do you want to try cases when you graduate?
Would you like to be trained by Florida’s best trial lawyers?

In almost any area of legal practice, you will find that advocacy or public speaking plays a crucial role. The skills you will gain as an STU Trial Team member will prepare you to be a great lawyer no matter where your career takes you.

Why Join Trial Team?

Develop Your Skills
  • The program teaches essential skills such as public speaking, the art of forming a persuasive and cohesive argument, thinking on your feet, and overall confidence. The skills you learn here translate far beyond the courtroom.
Enhance Your Resume
  • Impress employers by showcasing your trial advocacy and public speaking skills.
  • Many employers require participation in Trial Team.
  • However, if you are looking to enhance your resume without putting in serious time and effort, beware! STU Trial Team members must earn their membership.
Work With Experienced and Successful Trial Attorneys
  • STU Trial Team provides students with the phenomenal opportunity to have one-on-one training with successful trial attorneys and receive constructive criticism regarding their presentation skills and trial strategies.
  • The combined years of skill and expertise represented by the coaches is indispensable, and their diverse knowledge provides a one-in-a-lifetime learning experience.
Get Credit
  • Second and Third year law students can receive up to 3 credits (pass/fail) during a semester in which they compete and 1 credit (pass/fail) during a semester in which they choose to take the class component but are not competing.

How To Join Trial Team

  • Membership on STU Trial Team is an honor and accomplishment and thus, entails a rigorous tryout process where students can demonstrate their skills.
  • STU Trial Team holds tryouts each summer, fall and spring semester. The tryout process is open to second-year and third-year law students.
  • First-year (1L) law students are prohibited from participating in Trial Team due to academic guidelines. First-year students are encouraged to tryout in the Summer Semester following completion of their first year.
Qualifications
GPA Requirement
  • All STU Trial Team members must in good academic standing at St. Thomas University School of Law.
  • All members and students trying out must have a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) as described in the St. Thomas law school handbook.
  • If a member falls below the 2.5 GPA requirement, then that member will immediately be placed on probation and will have one full semester to reach a 2.5 GPA. i.e. If a member falls below the 2.5 GPA requirement in the Spring semester, then they will have until the Fall semester to be in good standing again. Members who are on probation cannot compete.
Tryout Process
  • Each student trying out will be given a “Trial Team Tryout Packet.” Students are usually required to present a cross-examination and a closing statement to a jury. Students selected will receive a call back with an invitation to become a Member-Candidate of the STU Trial Team.

Member-Candidacy Period and Evaluation
Member-Candidacy Period
  • Member-Candidates are voted on by the Executive Board whom considers all suggestions and comments from current members as well as the coaches.
  • Once the student becomes a Member-Candidate, the student will go through a period of evaluation where the student is expected to demonstrate the required level of commitment and work ethic in order to become an STU Trial Team member.
Evaluation During Member-Candidacy Period
  • The process of granting Member-Candidates full member status is contingent upon, but not limited to:
    • Participation in all trial team events
    • Completion of all assigned work
    • Overall attitude and work ethic
    • Class attendance
    • Progress made throughout the member-candidacy period
    • Evaluations made by the coaches and/or faculty advisors during competitions or other exercises
    • Quality of final performa