The Office of Career and Professional Development partnered with WBA DC, WBA Future Leaders Committee, and WBA Working Parents/Lawyers at Home Committee to host an all day Mock Trial Academy for children ages 8-13 years on November 17. Assistant Dean of Career and Professional Development, Tonya Gaskins, developed the curriculum for the event, taught the opening workshop, and facilitated throughout the day. Using the backdrop and characters from a classic children's story, CUA students and local lawyers taught students basic legal principles. The children concluded the day by showing off their legal skills during a mock trial, which included opening statements, direct and cross examinations of six witnesses, and closing arguments. As noted by the WBA, it is extraordinary "at this young age [for] the participants [to be able to] say they have contended with sly witnesses, parsed helpful facts from damaging ones, and woven together a theory of a case."

Sponsors included: The WBA of the District of Columbia, the WBA Foundation, the Office of Career and Professional Development at CUA Law, White & Case LLP, and Tanenholz & Associates, PLLC