On February 19-20 they'll compete in the regional tournament, which decides which teams will go on to nationals. The regional tournament will be held on campus and students are invited to attend. Should any of the teams advance to the nationals, that tournament will be in Des Moines. There are lawyers, eye witnesses, expert witnesses, exhibits, affidavits and judges. The final rounds of the national tournament will be held in a courthouse in Des Moines.
Tournaments usually last two days, with two trials per day.
A typical trial lasts three houses. As the Dubuque tournament, Wilcox received the Outstanding Attorney Award. Teams alternate between taking the side of the prosecution and the defense, so it's necessary to develop two cases. In that sense, preparation is key. But there's another factor that members often site, and that's the intimidation factor.