Child Welfare Collaborative Students Participate in Mock Trial

During the 2013 fall semester, NC State Child Welfare Collaborative students had the opportunity to learn how to prepare to give testimony during court appearances. Glenna Boston, a Juris Doctor candidate from North Carolina Central University School of Law, developed the project.

Law faculty and students trained MSW students to prepare for trial of an abuse/neglect/dependency case, working with them to conduct a mock trial of an actual case. Students were presented with different materials to complete throughout the fall semester, including court reports and Medicaid packages. They presented their testimonies as part of the mock trial to county court judges Beverly Scarlett, from Chatham County, and Nancy Gordon, of Durham County.

Students who attended the trial in Durham say the day at the courthouse was successful. Tabu Medju, a second year MSW student said the experience was a “wonderful opportunity to prepare for the case, build arguments and facts, and testify in court for the first time.” Glory Langley, also a second year MSW student, said the experience helped her to be better prepared for her child welfare internship and that seeing the different roles during the mock trial was also helpful.