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2020-21 National Trial Team

The National Trial Team is a for-credit student organization comprised of students who demonstrate exceptional ability in trial advocacy. Members of the team meet weekly for class sessions with lectures and practical exercises. Members are then assigned to competition teams and practice teams that meet each weekend to run materials and prepare for invitational tournaments. During these weekend practices, team members hone their trial skills by conducting full-length trials in front of federal and state judges and experienced trial attorneys. Team members learn evidence, trial planning, effective witness examination, and persuasive oral argument skills.

The Trial Team is one of the nation’s premier law school advocacy organizations. The Team was founded in 1999 by Director Emeritus Jerome Deise, who continues to advise the team and its members. Over the last twenty years the team has won numerous tournaments across the country. In 2020 former Trial Team captain Benjamin Garmoe ’16 was named the Managing Director of the National Trial Team. Garmoe is a Trial Team alumnus and a highly successful trial advocacy coach and instructor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).

How to Join the Trial Team

The National Trial Team holds tryouts each spring, open to first-year day students, first-year evening students transferring to the day program, and second-year evening students.  In round one, each student is provided with a trial packet and presents a closing argument to the members of the team.  Those students called back for round two then prepare a cross examination from the same case packet.  The new members are chosen by the existing team under the guidance of the coaching staff. If there are questions about the tryout process, please reach out to the team at trialteam@law.umaryland.edu.

Competitions and successes: Maryland Law National Trial Team Resume

Members

Leadership and Coaches

Alumni

Trial Advocacy Leadership Council