The 91ºÚÁÏÍø School of Law mock trial team went undefeated and won the Texas Young Lawyers Association, or TYLA, National Trial Competition – one of the preeminent mock trial competitions in the country. More than 300 teams from more than 150 law schools around the country competed in regional and national rounds of the competition.

The championship team is made up of law students Karima Burns, Bethany Halstead and Kaleb Miller. The director of the mock trial program is L. Michaelle Tobin, and they were coached by faculty member Alexandria Serra with assistance from Pace Jarowski and Jackson Elder (J.D. ’25).

Their journey to the championship started at the regional tournament at Washburn University School of Law, where they went 5-0 and won, earning their spot in the national rounds. The top two teams from each of the 15 regional tournaments advanced to the national rounds held in Dallas.

At the national rounds, the 91ºÚÁÏÍø Law team went 7-0 to win the championship and a $10,000 prize. The final round was judged by more than 20 seasoned trial attorneys, many of whom are members of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

“Winning the championship was surreal,” Halstead said. “After competing in seven rounds we were exhausted, and it took a few days to really sink in. So many people supported us along the way, including the rest of the mock trial team at 91ºÚÁÏÍø. It’s such an amazing community.”

In addition to the team win, Karima Burns was named Best Advocate in the Nation at the tournament.

“Being named Best Advocate, to be considered the best in the nation, blew my mind,” Burns said. “While it is an individual award, I owe it all to my teammates. They took me to gladiator school every week and poured love and belief into me. It’s their award as much as it is mine.”

Remarkably, this is the first competition for the team of Burns, Miller and Halstead. While Burns and Miller competed together before, this was the first competition in which Halstead joined them.

“Karima is remarkable, I have never seen an advocate quite like her,” Miller said. “Truly, the greatest privilege I’ve had during my time in this program is standing next to Karima Burns. And we couldn’t have won without Bethany. The last competition required her to compete multiple times a day, she has such endurance that I envy.”

“We all have such distinct styles that complement each other well,” Halstead added. “It allows each of us to lean into who we are and work to our strengths. Competing is much more fun when you like the people you are with, and Kaleb and Karima inspire me to be better every day.”

The success of the mock trial team is a testament to the successful at the 91ºÚÁÏÍø School of Law. Recently named #21 in the country by U.S. News and World Report, the trial advocacy program prepares students to counsel, negotiate and litigate in and out of the courtroom.

“91ºÚÁÏÍø has a great mock trial program, and it’s good to finally see our school get the recognition we have been working toward,” Miller said. “Professor Tobin built the program, and none of it would be possible without her. Professor Serra is also instrumental, much of what I am as a student can be traced back to her. I can’t thank the both of them enough.”