Mercer Advocacy Council (MAC)
Mercer’s School of Law has developed an oral advocacy program that is both nationally ranked and well-respected. Comprised of second- and third-year students, the Mercer Advocacy Council competes in numerous national competitions each year and organizes intra-school competitions for first- and second-year law students. Students compete in various forms of oral advoca
cy, including Moot Court, Mock Trial, Client Counseling, and Negotiation. Moot Court
Mercer has built a legacy of excelling in Moot Court competitions throughout the nation. Every fall, Mercer Advocacy Council holds try-outs for second-year law students who wish to be on the Moot Court Board. Once selected for Moot Court, students work rigorously with faculty to hone their oral and written advocacy skills prior to their individual competitions. More than a quarter of the faculty coach moot court teams, and over a third of the faculty contribute to the moot court selection process. Considerable resources, in both money and time, are devoted to student participation in the moot court program. Unlike many law schools, moot court is an integral part of the law school culture. Every student is required to write at least two persuasive briefs, and give two rounds of oral arguments in their legal writing classes. Additionally, the school hosts the Lawson Moot Court competition, an intra-school competition for first-year students, that is judged, in part, by practicing lawyers and judges from the community. This competition allows students to participate in oral advocacy prior to the selection process for the Moot Court Board. The result of student dedication and an emphasis on legal writing in the Mercer curriculum is an outstanding record of competition success. Mock Trial
Members of Mercer’s Mock Trial Board are dedicated to excelling in trial practice. Mercer Advocacy Council holds an intra-school competition every fall that serves as a try-out for Mock Trial Board. Members of Mock Trial Board compete in several competitions each year and strive to become the best advocates for their clients at the trial court level. Members work closely with faculty, local lawyers and Judges to hone and refine their skills in the Courtroom. In addition to the fall intra-school competition, every Spring the Advocacy Council holds a Closing Argument Competition for first- and second-year law students. Client Counseling and Negotiations
Consistent with the strong curricular focus on training students in the skills necessary for the practice of law, the Law School also holds annual competitions to select student teams to compete in regional and national competitions in Negotiations and Client Counseling. Try-outs for these teams are conducted by faculty and are open to second- and third-year law students. Mercer has a history of being highly ranked in these competitions, both on the regional and national level. Executive Board for 2013-2014:
MAC Chair
Matt Hurst
Moot Court Vice Chair
Warren Tillery
Mock Trial Vice Chair
Megan Powers
Client Counseling &
Negotiations Vice Chairs
Jessy Lee and Warner Kennon
Finance Vice Chair
Steven Pruitt
Alumni & Public Relations Vice Chair
Stephanie Hennigan
Legal Ethics And Professionalism Editors
Lauren Miller, Maria McClendon and Lauren Ashley Redmon
Intraschool Editor
Ashley Vandevender
Intraschool Mock Trial Editor
Ben Conkling
Intraschool Mock Trial Editor
Tommy McNulty
2L Moot Court Editors
Geoff Bard and Adam Gadberry
Closing Argument Competition Editor
John Murray and Sarah Flack
Hugh Lawson Editor
Christiane Cochran and Emma Banze
