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Inside AACP’s Mock Trial Competition: Five Years of Building Advocacy, Leadership and Critical Thinking Skills in Student Pharmacists

Student pharmacists team up to make their case during the CPD Section's Student Mock Trial during the AACP Annual Meeting.

Article by: 

Ettie Rosenberg, Pharm.D., J.D., Professor & Assistant Dean, Student Affairs
West Coast University School of Pharmacy

Shih-Ying (Audrey) Hsu, Ph.D., R.Ph., Adjunct Assistant Professor
West Coast University School of Pharmacy

Hoai-An Truong, Pharm.D., M.P.H., Professor & Director of Public Health 
University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy and Health Professions

Designed as a student-led research, advocacy and argumentation initiative, the AACP Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Section launched its inaugural student Mock Trial Competition in 2022. The initiative is aimed at providing student pharmacists with an opportunity to develop and to practice affective domain skills (e.g., communication, advocacy, problem-solving, critical thinking, leadership, teamwork, professionalism) as well as reinforce cognitive domain skills (e.g., research, evaluation/critique of literature, application of law). In 2026, the AACP Annual Mock Trial Competition (MTC) celebrated its fifth year.

Image A student pharmacists presents her case during the CPD Section's Student Mock Trial during Pharmacy Education 2024.

 

From Semifinals to the National Stage: How the Mock Trial Competition Works

Each spring, student teams representing Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) programs across the country submit a letter of intent (LOI) to participate in the MTC. From among all submissions, four semifinalist teams are selected to compete in the virtual mock trials held each year in mid-spring. Once selected, semifinal teams are randomly assigned a position, as "Petitioner" (i.e. the proponent “for”) or "Respondent" (i.e. the opponent “against”) to argue their assigned position on a designated and current controversial topic or dilemma in pharmacy practice, healthcare, or public health. Arguments and evidence presented are based on the teams’ individual research, evaluation, and critique of the literature, in addition to any law, public policy, and/ or any relevant public interest. 

Based on semifinalists’ performance in virtual mock trials, the top two teams advance to finalist positions and are invited to compete in-person at the final competition round which is held at the AACP Annual Meeting (time and location announced in annual meeting program). All AACP Annual Meeting attendees are welcomed to observe the final MTC round, and provide their comments and feedback.

Image Student pharmacists from the CPD Section's Student Mock Trial.

"The mock trial competition offers a unique opportunity for students to develop these communication and critical thinking skills."

Representative Quote from 2022-2025 Mock-Trial Competition Audience–Participants

Audience Feedback Highlights the Mock Trial Competition’s Impact and Appeal

Upon conclusion of each respective final round of the Mock Trial Competition (2022-2025), audiences were invited to submit individual feedback via online survey, which could be accessed using the QR code. A total of 32 audience members submitted feedback via the survey from 2022-2025. 

Most respondents (2022-2025) reported they were either extremely satisfied or satisfied with the MTC (87.5%). Nine out of 10 respondents would recommend the MTC to be held every year (93.8%). Notably, audience survey data from prior years also indicates a majority of respondents supported the premise that MTC enhances students’ capabilities in the areas of leadership, teamwork, professionalism, communication, critical thinking, as well as application and interpretation of literature (See Figure 1).

Respondents could also provide additional free-text feedback when answering the open-ended question about the MTC in the feedback survey. Overall positive feedback was received about MTC. In general, respondents shared a positive attitude toward the concepts of MTC; they described MTC as being interesting, exciting and entertaining. Some respondents appreciated the organization and execution of MTC, specifically “the witness cross examination, which … contributed well to the overall feel of the trial."

One respondent even described MTC as "a unique opportunity for students to develop these communication and critical thinking skills." Clearly, the audiences have shown enthusiasm about the MTC.

Image Student pharmacists from the CPD Section's Student Mock Trial in 2025.

Future Improvements to the Mock Trial Competition

As the Mock Trial Committee acknowledged and appreciated the comments and suggestions received in the audience feedback survey, the results called for attention to three specific areas for quality improvement. First, multiple respondents pointed out the need to have a microphone for each side; moreover, having practice run-through with the microphones before the start of MTC would ensure a more seamless process. 

Second, it was preferable if the evidence presented during the MTC could be accessed by audiences. One way to accomplish this is to compile and upload all trial evidence online ahead of time and make them available to audiences via a QR code or link. 

The third main theme in suggestions is to have a courtroom style setup, so that audiences could better observe the process of cross-examination and have a clear view of all parties in the trial (e.g., judges, witnesses, and cross-examiners). The Mock Trial Committee concurs with feedback and has always strived for courtroom style setting given the limitations of the meeting venue.

Image Student pharmacists from the CPD Section's Student Mock Trial in 2025.

"…appreciated the organization and execution of the mock trial competition…the witness cross-examination…contributed well to the overall feel of the trial."

Representative Quote from 2022-2025 Mock-Trial Competition Audience–Participants

Looking Ahead: Expanding the Reach and Impact of the Mock Trial Competition

As the MTC enters its fifth year, the Mock Trial Committee would like to acknowledge the CPD members and AACP staff for their continuous support. To further increase interest from students in pharmacy programs across the country, the launch announcement of the annual MTC was made earlier (December 2025) and held open for a longer period. 

Other potential plans also include expanding the MTC from a CPD Section initiative to an association-wide (AACP) activity, live-streaming the MTC via Zoom or posting the MTC recording online to increase awareness and excitement about the opportunity for students, as well as seeking appropriate incentives to further encourage greater student participation.

Image Student pharmacists from the CPD Section's Student Mock Trial.
A student pharmacist speaks during her portion of the CPD Section's Student Mock Trial.

 

Authors’ Acknowledgments

"It takes a village…" (African proverb, n.d.).

The authors wish to acknowledge our esteemed colleagues for their assistance and support, all sincerely appreciated, and vital to this Mock Trial Competition initiative:

For their dedication and efforts on behalf of students and the Mock Trial Competition:

  • Lee Vermeulen, Executive Vice President and CEO, AACP
  • Maureen Thielemans, Senior Director of Communications, AACP
  • Michelle Assa-Eley, Ph.D., Senior Director of Education, AACP
  • Thomas Maggio, MBA, Director of Member Programs, AACP
  • Tram Cat, Pharm.D., Chair, and Members, AACP Continuing Professional Development Section

Our collaborators on the Mock Trial Competition Committee share their intellect and support:

  • Stephen Brown, J.D., Pharm.D., Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy
  • Lauren Ladd, PharmD, South College School of Pharmacy 
  • Tracy E Leonard, RPh., BCPP, BCACP, CDCES, CPh; University of Florida College of Pharmacy

Our Mock Trial Judges contribute their service to advance pharmacy education and students’ interests:

  • Barry Bleidt, Deputy Editor, Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning 
  • Andrew Coop, Ph.D., University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
  • Stephen Brown, J.D., Pharm.D., Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy
  • Lauren Ladd, South College School of Pharmacy
  • Audrey Hsu, West Coast University School of Pharmacy
Image A student pharmacists presents her case during the CPD Section's Student Mock Trial during Pharmacy Education 2024.

 

Image Student pharmacists from the CPD Section's Student Mock Trial in 2023.

 

Image Student pharmacists from the CPD Section's Student Mock Trial.
Student pharmacists from the CPD Section's Student Mock Trial.

 

Student pharmacists from the CPD Section's Student Mock Trial.

 

Student pharmacists from the CPD Section's Student Mock Trial.
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