Preparing for the Trial Competition

Sach Oliver spoke to a classroom of students to help prepare them for the upcoming trial competition. William H. Sutton Barrister’s Union Trial Competition is an annual competition held for the University of Arkansas Law School Students. The two-person teams are required to analyze the record, pick out salient facts, utilize trial strategies, offer pretrial motions, develop a theory of the case, plan direct examinations, adjust to cross examinations, make and defend objections, and present their case to a jury in a tournament format. Working from a previously drafted record, the teams are judged by professors, outside attorneys, and local judges on their presentation of an opening statement, direct examinations of witnesses, cross examinations of witnesses, and a closing statement. This intense competition offers our future lawyers an introduction into the courtroom.Sach, being a graduate of the U of A Law School, also competed in this trial competition. He and partner, Clark Tucker, were able to pull off a victory and going on to compete on a regional and national level. Later, Sach was named the coveted “Best Oral Advocate” award in the National Trial Competition sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers.Sach has had the opportunity to speak to every law school class since his Trial Competition 6 years ago. The advice he was able to share with these students was more than a pep talk. He hoped to give them insight and details on what they will be facing in this competition. Law School Student, Matt Mathis said, “Mr. Oliver’s presentation was great. It was not only entertaining, but extremely informative and he gave us a better perspective of the competition.”