Prior to becoming a lawyer I use to coach teenagers in basketball and football. I eventually gave up coaching to pursue my legal career. In law school, I was a member of the St. Thomas University School of Law Trial Team and it was one of the best experiences in my life. It was as a member that team I developed a passion for trial advocacy that I still carry with me to this very day. So, when I had the opportunity to go back to St. Thomas University and coach the trial team I accepted without hesitation.
I have been coaching for two years now and recently finished coaching at the Honorable E. Earle Zehmer Memorial Mock Trial Competition in Orlando, Florida. This competition was hosted by the Florida Justice Association and they put on a fine competition.
I coached two teams (along with my co-coach) and they both competed on Saturday. After the first day of competition one of our teams advanced to the semi-finals where they were unfortunately defeated by Stetson Law. Despite not winning the competition I am proud of each of my students for showing up to the competition and representing their school proudly.
Over the last 8 weeks of preparation I got to witness them grow from being law students to full blown lawyers. I look forward to next year when we get another chance to go back to this competition for a chance to finally bring home the title. But for now the focus turns to the competition in Jacksonville, Florida and putting Florida on notice that St. Thomas University School of Law Trial Team is a force to be reckoned with once again.
Houson R. Lafrance
