National Pretrial Competition

This year's case unfolds within the walls of the Silver Palms Resort - a luxury hotel where paradise hides something deadly. When the hotel accountant notices irregularities in the books, he stumbles upon far more than missing revenue: a sophisticated criminal organization woven into the very foundation of Silver Palms, with ties leading straight to the resort's co-owners.

As he quietly gathers evidence, building a case that could bring down the entire operation, he races against time to deliver what he's found to law enforcement. But before he can hand over the proof, he's found dead. 

This year's competitors will be dropped into the middle of a criminal prosecution for homicide and conspiracy where they'll be challenged in pretrial hearings to argue constitutional, evidentiary, and procedural matters before trial. Combining real world pretrial and trial practice, NPTC gives student advocates the opportunity to practice a complex hearing by directing and crossing 4 witnesses and making complex factual and legal arguments on multiple evidentiary issues. Students will develop skills for properly researching, analyzing, and litigating important, case-dispositive, pretrial matters in an evidentiary hearing almost identical to a full trial. Prior to the hearing, as in real practice, the students prepare for their hearing by writing memorandums of law on each side of the case in support of their positions. 

Sixteen teams from across the country will compete in a guaranteed 4 preliminary rounds, with the fourth preliminary round serving as a silent quarterfinal. The winners of the silent quarterfinal rounds advanced to a semifinal, and then the top two schools competed to take home the first place award.

To further competition accessibility, Stetson invites from the applicant pool two schools that have not competed at NPTC within the last five years.

The application period for NPTC 2026 has now closed.

The following teams will compete in NPTC 2026, October 1 - 4:

• Baylor University School of Law
• Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law
• Chapman University, Fowler School of Law
• Lewis & Clark School of Law
• Louisiana State University Paul M. Herbert Law Center
• Mississippi Christian University School of Law (formerly Mississippi College School of Law)
• Regent University School of Law
• Texas Tech University School of Law
• Tulane School of Law
• University at Buffalo School of Law
• University of Florida School of Law
• University of Houston Law Center
• University of Illinois-Chicago School of Law
• University of Miami School of Law
• University of Richmond School of Law
• University of San Francisco School of Law

Please email [email protected] with any questions.