First-Year Trial Practicum

Drake is the only American law school where all first-year classes shift to a campus courtroom for a week, enabling students to view an actual state or federal trial.

First-Year Trial Practicum

The First-Year Trial Practicum at Drake Law School is a unique program. Every spring since 1998, the first-year classes move to Neal and Bea Smith’s Law Center courtroom. The law school courtroom has been designated as an official courtroom for the Fifth Judicial District of the State of Iowa.

The students gather in that courtroom to observe an actual jury trial from start to finish. Murder, child endangerment, robbery, and employment discrimination cases have all been litigated in front of a jury, start to finish, with first-year law students watching. Those students have had the unique ability to question judges, lawyers, and even jurors (following the verdict).

Drake Law students don’t just observe trials; they also participate in them. Remarkably, second-year law student Brecklyn Carey gave the opening argument in the Sahouri trial in 2021 and assisted in prosecuting the case, as part of her Prosecution Internship course.

The trial practicum introduces the law to students in a way that no textbook can ever quite capture. Most importantly, the event models the values of civility, professionalism, and public service essential to the legal system.

"In 2020, I observed a vehicular homicide trial from voir dire to verdict through the First-Year Trial Practicum. Just one year later, I was at counsel table—delivering an opening statement and directing a witness. Drake Law's experiential learning programs truly accelerate your career growth."

Brecklyn Carey
JD'21

Previous First-Year Trial Case Examples

State of Iowa v. John Molloy: The defendant was tried for Murder in the First Degree for the shooting death of his drug supplier.

State of Iowa v. Andrea Sahouri: The defendant was a Des Moines Register reporter who was charged with failure to disperse and interference with official acts during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. The case received international attention and was live-streamed worldwide.

State of Iowa v. Sera Alexander: The defendant was charged with killing her stepfather.

State of Iowa v. Bernard Montez Davis: A case accusing the defendant of burglary in the third degree.

State of Iowa v. Phankhy Pongxayavong: This case involved a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

State of Iowa v. Andrea LaForge: This case involved homicide by vehicle-OWI, homicide by vehicle-reckless, and involuntary manslaughter.

State of Iowa v. Linda Wilson: The defendant was charged with theft in the second degree and theft in the third degree, both felonies.