About 90 percent of UC Davis law students receive training in trial advocacy before graduation -- one of the highest percentages in the nation among the law schools where the trial practice course is an elective.
Under the direction of Head Trial Team Coach Tim Snowball, the trial practice program enlists the active participation of judges and lawyers, many of them alumni, as lab instructors for the practical training of students in trial advocacy.
Students also participate in the National Mock Trial Competition and have won several awards in the competition over the years. For students who are not interested in interschool competitions, UC Davis conducts an annual intraschool trial tournament, the Frances Carr Competition. Since the Carr tourney is held in the fall and the regional tournament in the spring, students may participate in both inter- and intra-school competitions in the same academic year.
The Trial Practice Honors Board develops excellence in trial advocacy within an atmosphere of fair and honest competition.