Parker Reid, a rising senior at New Albany High School, recently participated in the Rhodes College Mock Trial Academy in Memphis, Tennessee. Rhodes College Mock Trial is the nation’s most successful collegiate mock trial program with 32nd consecutive National Championship Tournament appearances.
The Mock Trial Academy is a three week residential program for high school students to learn about civil, criminal, and appellate advocacy. Selected students can elect to attend any one or all of the three weeks. Each week is dedicated to a different case and area of law. Reid elected to attend the first week of the academy, which focused on civil suits.
He lived on campus with other students and was instructed by current national team members. The students had daily classes where they worked to develop skills in trial advocacy. Team members focused on public speaking and presentation, how to effectively present an argument and to develop an understanding of constitutional laws related to the judicial system.
Reid said one of the more challenging elements of the program was taking the exam on the Midlands Rules of Evidence, which governs evidentiary law during a mock trail. The exam is a Rhodes Mock Trail tradition and is loosely referred to as “the bar exam.” “The test covered a vast amount of material,” stated Reid. “I’m just glad I passed it and was able to compete on Saturday.”
Reid’s week of study concluded with two full trials on Saturday, June 23, 2018, to demonstrate the skills learned through the program. In one case, Reid served as an attorney for the Plaintiff and in the other case, he was a witness for the defense.
Reid’s summer is filled with great educational opportunities. He attended Mississippi American Legion Boys State at the end of school and has begun the federally funded Mississippi StarTalk program at the University of Mississippi this week where he will receive intensive instruction in Chinese language and earn six hours of college credit.
