WKU News

Throughout the early portion of the 2025-2026 school year, Western Kentucky University's Mock Trial program built and supported two separate competitive teams. These teams traveled to tournaments hosted by schools across the south, consisting of Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Purdue, and Eastern Kentucky University. Throughout these tournaments, the teams were afforded the chance to test their capabilities in skill sets like performance, advocacy, public speaking, and legal skills. They gained valuable, hands-on courtroom experience across several states, networking and being judged by attorneys and other legal professionals across different jurisdictions. These teams competed against future legal professionals from many notable schools, including Ivy League universities such as Duke University.

Leading into and throughout the competitions, team members dissected an extensive case, consisting of over 300 pages of testimony, exhibits, case law, and more. They worked with witness character development, courtroom strategy, and heavy legal writing. The members consistent dedication lead to a continual upward trajectory in competition, with proven increases in rounds won each competition, which reflects a clear trend of growth in their marketable skills brought via this program. Alongside that, two of our members came home to Bowling Green with individual awards for their remarkable performances.

Outside of just the competitive results of the program, we place an emphasis on encouraging growth in professional skills and push for hands-on learning. Students involved with the program are given the tools necessary to develop critical skills like legal reasoning, improvisation, collaboration, and public speaking. All of these skill sets are not only vital in legal professions, but also marketable and valuable skills in any field. The progress of our program is a display of our students and staffs commitment to furthering opportunities for involvement and education for students at Western Kentucky University. The program is committed to continuing to provide opportunities for our students, and is positioned for continual growth both this season and into further years.