Catholic’s National Mock Trial Team is busy recruiting new members for the 2025-26 school year. As the team looks to the future, it reflects on this year’s accomplishments.

The 2024-25 season saw not one but two “Outstanding Advocate” awards for Catholic, both won by 2L team member Hali Woods in her first two trial competitions. The first was at this year’s Premiere Trial Competition, which was hosted by Drexel Law School in Philadelphia, PA. There, Ms. Woods was recognized as best advocate out of approximately forty students at the tournament. The second was at the National Trial Competition Regionals, which were held at University of Maryland Law School in Baltimore. Evaluators – several of whom were members of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers – recognized Ms. Woods as a top advocate in each of her four preliminary trials.

From L to R: Tyler Kachadorian, Hali Woods, and Gerald Sharpe

Ms. Woods and her teammates Gerald Sharpe (3L) and Tyler Kachadorian (2L) also finished as semi-finalists at NTC Regionals, going into the advancing rounds seeded #1 and losing by a narrow margin to the team from University of Baltimore, who went on to win the tournament. “As we’ve come to expect, our trial team students represent the law school with exceptional talent, professionalism, and passion,” said Director Lindsey Cloud. “Head coach Vania Smith and I could not be more proud of the hard work they’ve put in this year.”

Students who want to learn more about trial team and the tryout process – already underway – should reach out to Prof. Cloud at mervis@cua.edu.