Bench & Gavel

Legal Studies’ majors and minors are invited to join the student organization, the Bench & Gavel Club.  The purpose of the Bench & Gavel Club is to promote involvement in the MUW Legal Studies Program and fellowship among its members. Members meet once a month for meetings and participate in extracurricular events such as field trips to observe court trials, attend pre-law day at area law schools, and tour prison and jail facilities.

Mock Trial Team

MUW is a member institution to the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) along with over 350 other universities and colleges in the U.S.  AMTA provides a forum for over 5,300 undergraduate students each academic year to engage in intercollegiate mock trial competitions across the country. Mockers will develop critical thinking and public speaking skills, as well as a knowledge of legal practices and procedures.

MUW’s Mock Trial Team is hosted by the Legal Studies Department. MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ALL MUW STUDENTS.  It allows students to combine their interdisciplinary strengths from Legal Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Communications, History, English, Theatre and more. Students from any and all disciplines are welcome and needed to create a great team dynamic.  One team must consist of at least 6-10 students (3 attorneys, 3 witnesses and 1 timekeeper).  The University may enter more than one team.

Further, students earn general elective course credit by registering for the course PLG 401:  Special Topics – MOCK TRIAL.  AMTA releases the new case materials and evidence in August.  The team will compete in a number of competitions throughout the U.S.

Lambda Epsilon Chi

Lambda Epsilon Chi (LEX) is the national honor society founded by the American Association for Paralegal Education. There are 146 chapters throughout the United States and thousands of inductees who have been honored for their outstanding academic achievements.

Each year the MUW Legal Studies’ program select those students who meet high academic criteria and cite them for their accomplishments by inducting them into Lambda Epsilon Chi. These students are recognized through a formal ceremony and the awarding of a Certificate of Induction and a special pin. They are also entered into the permanent records of LEX. LEX members are eligible to apply for the annual LEX scholarship.