{"id":1801,"date":"2018-03-09T10:00:15","date_gmt":"2018-03-09T10:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ontherecord.empiremocktrial.org\/?p=1801"},"modified":"2018-03-27T02:18:57","modified_gmt":"2018-03-27T02:18:57","slug":"2018-is-on-the-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ontherecord.empiremocktrial.org\/?p=1801","title":{"rendered":"2018 is On The Record"},"content":{"rendered":"

Applications are Now Open!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a new year. \u00a0A new season. \u00a0And a new voice for the Empire Family.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are officially On The Record at Empire Mock Trial, and I am excited to welcome you <\/span>to our new home. Expect news stories, student spotlights, and enriching content to supplement our case. But more importantly, expect to learn! Together, we’ll learn about the law, the Empire case, and our Empire Family.<\/span><\/p>\n

With OTR\u2019s debut, it is time to announce the 2018 season! We have some big things in store for you in 2018 that I can summarize in three areas: (1) more financial aid; (2) rule changes that will make your life easier; and (3) new venues for two of our sites, one of which introduces an entirely new Empire experience. As a good (mock) lawyer would, I am going to handle each one a time.<\/span><\/p>\n

More Financial Aid<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are more than doubling our financial aid this year! Our three need-based scholarships, offered since 2016, will now include 12 free hotel room nights at the Competition Hotel. We’re also offering scholarships for select schools located in the same state as their Empire Competition, in an effort to give back to the local communities in which we operate. <\/span>You can read about our\u00a0financial aid<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0expansion on our site, and stay tuned for a story here On The Record.<\/p>\n

Rule Changes that will make your Life Easier<\/b><\/p>\n

This year, you’ll find simpler procedures for the Guest Witness role (hint: the same student can GW in the same role in more than one trial), more flexibility for teams to manage their attorney roles (hint: pick 3 or 4 attorneys to serve in a round), and even some changes to the pre-trial argument (hint: you may be faced with a motion that is not<\/span> related to a piece of evidence in the case). As with all of our changes, our goal is to make your trials<\/span>\u00a0more competitive<\/span>, more educational and more engaging!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Take a look at our\u00a0site<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>to learn more!<\/p>\n

New Venues<\/strong><\/p>\n

We love courthouses. We’ve hosted in them for over a decade. But we are trying something new in 2018 and hosting a mock trial competition in…<\/p>\n

A convention center! I am thrilled to share with you that Empire Atlanta IV will take place in the spacious\u00a0Georgia World Congress Center<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(“GWCC”), located in the heart of Atlanta. Why the switch, you may ask?\u00a0 It’s the right facility, in the right city, in the right location; in other words, it’s the perfect fit. Students will walk out the front of the hotel, cross the street, and enter the GWCC. It is a 3-minute walk from door-to-door! Additionally, the conference rooms are spacious, there are no security lines and there are no restrictions on electronic devices. We’re also pairing this new venue with a new hotel<\/a><\/strong> that features a more intimate atmosphere.\u00a0 We can’t wait to introduce you to the all-new Empire Atlanta!<\/p>\n

The courthouse experience will still be available at our other competitions. In San Francisco, we are moving right around the corner to Superior Court, located across the street from beautiful City Hall park. Featuring more spacious and modern courtrooms, we are confident that this courthouse will provide a professional, but more relaxed, environment than its federal counterpart. Students will make their way from the Parc 55 Hilton Hotel to the Court on comfy buses, a tweak that we’ve made to our itinerary based on your feedback.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Last, but not least, our annual global collection of talent, Empire New York, is\u00a0back in Times Square for its third year! We are still working out logistics with the local courts, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we have more details.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Apply Now for the 2018 Season<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Start your application for the 2018 season today! Remember, we accept schools on a rolling basis so the sooner you apply the better. Just click on the APPLY link below to learn more about the 2018 season and to get started on your application.<\/span><\/p>\n

Apply Now<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

The 2018 Competition Schedules are listed below. The dates provided are from Friday (when our Opening Ceremony starts) to Monday (when our Championship Round is held). Scrimmage rooms are always available on the Thursday before the Competition, and teams often arrive before or after the listed dates to practice and\/or sight see.<\/span><\/p>\n

EMPIRE ATLANTA<\/b><\/p>\n

September 21-24, 2018<\/span><\/p>\n

Trial Venue:<\/strong> <\/span>
\n<\/span>Georgia World Congress Center<\/span><\/p>\n

Hotel:<\/strong>
\n<\/span>Embassy Suites at Centennial Park by Hilton<\/p>\n

EMPIRE SAN FRANCISCO<\/b><\/p>\n

October 26-29, 2018<\/span><\/p>\n

Trial Venue:<\/strong>
\n<\/span>San Francisco Superior Court<\/p>\n

Hotel:<\/strong>
\n<\/span>Parc 55 Hilton<\/p>\n

EMPIRE NEW YORK<\/b><\/p>\n

November 16-19, 2018<\/span><\/p>\n

Trial Venue:<\/strong>
\n<\/span>T.B.D.<\/p>\n

Hotel:<\/strong>
\n<\/span>Crowne Plaza Times Square<\/p>\n

——<\/span><\/p>\n

Hi everyone! My name is Tom Faiella, I am the editor-in-chief of On The Record, and I am thrilled to be working with Empire Mock Trial. I have had the good fortune to be involved with mock trial programs\u2013as a competitor, coach, and judge\u2013for more than fifteen years at high school, college, and law school. During the past few years, I worked as a lawyer and judicial clerk, gaining experience that I look forward to putting into my work with Empire. \u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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