Posted in: Students & Educators › High School Mock Trial
This year’s SC Bar State High School Mock Trial competition was a fight to the finish, and Strom Thurmond High School of Edgefield County walked away with the golden gavel. This is the high school’s seventh mock trial title. The team, led by teachers Denise Jackson, Steve McKinney and Michael Wood and attorneys Blair Massey and Senator Shane Massey, competed against 11 other schools from across South Carolina. This team will represent the Palmetto State at the national competition in Athens, Georgia in May.
“Mock Trial teaches so much more than just litigating fictitious cases,” said Blair Massey. “It teaches public speaking, team work, professionalism, courage, civility and fosters a better understanding of our legal system.”
Massey has worked with the Mock Trial team at Strom Thurmond High School since 2003. Every student she has helped coach becomes family.
Wade Hampton High School of Greenville County won the first runner-up award. The team was led by teacher coaches Grant Hunter and Corey Ramey and attorney coach Ayla Connor.
“It was my first year coaching Mock Trial, and I had a blast,” said Connor. “I wanted to coach students so they could meet a real-life attorney and ask me questions about my background, profession and schooling. My hope is that I can be a mentor to some of these students.”
The Mock Trial program would not be possible without the many wonderful teachers, dedicated volunteer attorney coaches, volunteer judges and attorneys who evaluate the teams during the competitions, and the SC Bar Law Related Education Committee. For more information about the Mock Trial program, visit www.scbar.org/lre.