Liberty Law students sharpen courtroom skills, deepen faith at Lanier Trial Academy

Eight Liberty University School of Law students, many of whom compete on the Liberty Law Trial Team, were granted the opportunity to participate in the annual Lanier Trial Academy, created and hosted by distinguished trial attorney Mark Lanier at no cost, June 22-25, in Houston, Texas.

The academy, which brings in hundreds of students, vendors, and attorneys each year, offered students an incredible opportunity to learn from one of the nation’s most decorated civil trial attorneys, whose accolades include major victories in personal injury and product liability lawsuits against industry giants. Lanier’s litigation victories have resulted in $20 billion in payment distributions.

“My experience at the Lanier Trial Academy was incredibly rewarding and far surpassed my expectations,” said 3L Haley Grubbs. “Mark Lanier is not only an exceptionally intelligent and successful trial attorney, but I was especially impressed by his humility despite the success he has achieved and his willingness to openly share the techniques and strategies that have contributed to that success.”

“One of my favorite parts of the academy was hearing Mark speak about his faith and how he has remained grounded in his relationship with Christ throughout his career,” she added. “It was incredibly meaningful to hear him talk about the importance of keeping Christ at the center of your life and not allowing pride or professional success to get in the way. That was a reminder I will carry with me throughout my own legal education and career.”

The four-day event, which celebrated its 10th anniversary, included lecture sessions, networking opportunities, and a tour of the 17,000-square-foot Lanier Theological Library.

Drawing examples from his own trial experiences, Lanier hosted sessions on topics including leveraging artificial intelligence during a trial, jury psychology, and how to best use technology and demonstratives during a trial.

“I learned so much throughout the conference,” said 3L Ava Standish, a member of the Liberty Law Trial Team who spent six weeks this past summer as a clerk for the Lanier Law Firm following the academy. “The opportunity to attend the Lanier Trial Academy alongside my teammates was so helpful. Each break, we would excitedly talk about how to implement the previous session information in trial competitions this upcoming year.”

“I loved having the opportunity to learn and strategize alongside my brilliant teammates,” Standish added. “I am so excited to see how we put the principles we learned into practice this mock trial season and in practice.”

For 2L Ethan Klompien, participating in the academy was an opportunity to learn practical courtroom tactics.

“It was also very impressive to see how effectively he tells stories and speaks to a jury to communicate his points while tailoring his message to the individual jurors,” Klompien said. “Throughout the conference, he remained focused on his main goals while also demonstrating an understanding of how to communicate those ideas in the way most likely to resonate with the jurors. I found that approach very insightful. He was also such a talented storyteller that it was difficult to become bored, and he consistently connected his lessons to real cases he had experienced and participated in, which made everything feel practical and applicable.”

The final day of the academy included a Bible study, led by Lanier, who delivered a message about how Christians should faithfully do their work while remaining prepared to share the Gospel.

“I also really valued the short Bible study he led on the final day,” Klompien said. “It was encouraging to see someone who has achieved so much emphasize what is ultimately the most important thing and really the only thing in our lives that truly matters.”

For 3L Jaymee Wagner, a competing member on the Liberty Law Trial Team, the academy provided more than an opportunity to sharpen her courtroom skills. The experience challenged her to consider how her faith and God-given creativity can shape the way she communicates with jurors. She said she is eager to apply those lessons into the upcoming competition season.

“The Trial Academy grew us all in our skills and in our relationships with each other, and I’m excited to see how that shows up in our Trial Team competitions this year,” Wagner said. “I especially enjoyed his sessions on the art of using specific words and intentional storytelling to persuade jurors. As believers, we know that all creativity and storytelling comes from God, the ultimate storyteller, so it was inspiring to learn how to use those God-given gifts in the courtroom. Mark Lanier is an excellent trial attorney, and I am eager to use his teachings in my future practice of law.”