Akron Partner John R. Conley, with Dave Oeschger of The Becker Law Firm, recently coached the University of Akron School of Law’s Trial Team to victory in the prestigious 22nd National Civil Trial Competition, which took place over the course of three days in Santa Monica, California.
During the competition, the Akron Trial Team faced off against 15 of the top mock trial programs in the country. The 64 student litigants from across the nation tried a fictitious matter that involved a famous singer who died without a formal will. Trial team members presented opening statements, conducted direct and cross-examinations of lay and expert witnesses, and made closing arguments. They also argued objections – based on the Federal Rules of Evidence – throughout the proceedings. The panel of judges included well-respected members of the Southern California Bench and Bar. The competition culminated on November 5, 2023, with the Akron Trial Team winning the national championship.
In his LinkedIn post, Mr. Conley expressed his pride and excitement for the students he coached, noting, “It was such a joy to watch these young, soon-to-be attorneys . . . find their voices and rise to every challenge thrown at them. They are flying home today carrying the big trophy and other hardware. And I'm almost in tears.” He also conveyed “powerful appreciation” for Lewis Brisbois, calling the firm “home to many of the nation’s most talented and respected trial attorneys,” and explaining that it “did not hesitate to throw substantial financial support behind the team.” Moreover, Mr. Conley announced that he and other attorneys have formed a non-profit – Trial Team Legacy Group – “to facilitate donations aimed at making certain that Akron Trial Team students and coaches are not restrained by financial restrictions while competing to keep Akron Law's name in the lights.”
Notably, Mr. Conley also recalled his own “formative and eminently valuable” experience as a member of the University of Akron’s Trial Team that won the National Civil Trial Competition in 2007. He noted that the experience “armed me with several tools that law school, however valuable, could not . . . [m]ost importantly, how to find my voice and lean into my personal strengths, rather than try to emulate some other personality or style.”
Mr. Conley is a member of Lewis Brisbois’ Complex Business & Commercial Litigation Practice Group, a go-to advisor for numerous entities with diverse national interests, and a trial lawyer who dedicates substantial time to teaching law students effective trial and evidence presentation techniques.
Original source can be found here.