McGeorge is excited to again be hosting the National Ethics Competition on March 28-30, 2025. Selected teams will compete at the historic Robert T. Matsui U.S. Courthouse in Sacramento.
About the competition
McGeorge's National Ethics Trial Competition was established in 2006 to promote ethical and civility awareness through the mock trial competition format. As far as we know, it is the only law school-sponsored competition that features both an ethical component in the issues to be tried and scoring based on the participants' observation of ethical and civility principles. The competition provides an opportunity for student trial lawyers to develop and display their knowledge and skills of professional responsibility in trial work. Trials are judged by distinguished members of the bench and bar, including judges of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, Superior Courts of California, and members of the Anthony M. Kennedy and Milton Schwartz Inns of Court.
Format
There will be four preliminary rounds (each side will be guaranteed to go twice), a Semi-Final, and a Final
Each team shall be comprised of four law students. Each team will consist of either 2, 3 or 4 members who advocate during the competition. In each round, two students will be advocates and two students will play the witnesses for their side. Over the course of the competition, teams may choose whether all team members will perform advocate roles or whether some will play witnesses only.
Case File
The case file will be released by Feb. 14, 2025.
Applications
Applications are due by Nov. 8, 2024, and invitations will be sent out by Nov. 12, 2024.
There will be a $1,000 registration fee due to secure the spot of invited teams, which covers the banquet, awards, and swag.
