Every year, the National Trial Competition (NTC) brings together teams from over 100 law schools and around 1,000 law students around the country. The 51st Annual NTC is right around the corner and the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law is hosting Region 14 from February 20–22 at the Robert T. Matsui United States Courthouse in Sacramento.

The last time McGeorge hosted NTC was eight years ago in partnership with the University of California, Davis. Through the competition, students engage in a simulated courtroom experience in which they portray attorneys and witnesses while presenting a fictional legal case, competing as either the prosecution or defense.

There will be preliminary rounds on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, quarterfinal and semifinal rounds will take place. Following the semifinal round on Sunday, there will be a courthouse reception with refreshments, where the two regional teams advancing to the National Competition will be announced. The 2026 NTC Finals will be held on April 7-11 in Dallas, Texas.

There are 15 teams competing in Region 14 this year including teams from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law; Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law; University of California, Berkeley School of Law; University of California, Davis School of Law; University of California College of Law, San Francisco; University of Hawaii at Mānoa, William S. Richardson School of Law, University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, and Santa Clara University School of Law.

“We are proud to host Region 14 of the National Trial Competition and grateful for the strong partnership of the United States Eastern District and our local legal community. With the support of TYLA and the ACTL, we are able to give students meaningful, real-world advocacy experience and help foster the next generation of trial lawyers," Adjunct Professor Simone Leighty ‘20 said. Leighty is serving as the host of NTC Region 14.

The American College of Trial Lawyers has been a founding sponsor of the National Trial Competition since 1975. The Kraft W. Eidman Award will be presented by the American College of Trial Lawyers.

“The National Trial Competition provides law students with an opportunity to develop practical trial skills in a realistic courtroom environment. It fosters confidence, professionalism, and a deeper understanding of trial advocacy, all qualities that will benefit students as they embark on their legal careers,” said National Trial Competition Committee Chair Sally Ferguson.

The winning school will receive $10,000 endowed by Norton Rose Fulbright LLP and a plaque for each member of the winning team. Beck Redden LLP will hand out a $5,000 award to the second-place team whereas Shipley Snell Montgomery LLP will dispense a $1,500 award to each of the semifinalist teams. Additionally, the Best Oral Advocate is awarded the George A. Spiegelberg Award, donated by Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson.

Supporting partners of the competition include the Texas Young Lawyers Association, who will be the administrators of the competition. With only two teams advancing from each regional competition, the completion then culminates with 30 teams gathering in Dallas to compete in the national finals.

The regional winner and runner-up will be determined by the total ballots in the semifinal round; total ballots in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds; or total ballots in the preliminary, quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.