Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Farris:
Joining me again today is Dr. Frank Guliuzza, who is the pre-law advisor at Patrick Henry College, and he’s also the national president of the Pre Law Advisor’s Council. Dr. Guliuzza, how important is participation in activities like moot court or mock trial for law school admission?

Dr. Frank Guliuzza:
Thanks, Mike. When pre-law students consider activities in college, they should ask themselves two questions. “Will it help me be admitted to law school? And will it help me develop the skills necessary to be successful in law school?” Mock trial and moot court do both.

I’ve spoken with law school admissions people about how they react to students who do compete in these activities, and I’ve been told that often, law schools will put these applications aside and look at the students differently, in a special way. Why? Because they want smart students, and they want to recruit students who might be successful on their own law school moot court and mock trial teams. And it works. I’ve never had a student on a mock trial or moot court team who wanted to go to law school who was not admitted.

They also help develop skills that will prepare the student to do well in law school. Now he or she is still going to have to work very hard, and much of it will be like learning a foreign language. But these activities give a student a way of thinking and a familiarity that provides just a little bit of comfort as they navigate through this difficult area of study.

Mike:
Dr. Guliuzza, it is great to have you here at Patrick Henry College, especially with your assistance in moot court and mock trial. I’m Mike Farris.