Briana O'Neil is currently serving as the YLD Mock Trial Committee Chair for the 2025 Mississippi High School Mock Trial Competition. In this role, she oversees the organization and execution of the high school mock trial competition, which has included regional rounds in January and February 2025, and recently concluded with the Statewide Finals on February 28 and March 1, 2025, at the Hinds County Courthouse. This is Briana’s third year serving in this role.
The Mississippi High School Mock Trial Competition is an important educational program that has been sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division of The Mississippi Bar since 1983. It provides students with an inside perspective of the legal system and helps them develop valuable skills in public speaking, critical thinking, and legal reasoning.
Briana's involvement in mock trial competitions extends beyond her leadership roles. She has been recognized for her contributions to law-related public education, as evidenced by her selection to receive the Mississippi Bar Foundation's 2025 Law-Related Public Education Award. This award acknowledges her dedication to enhancing the public's understanding of the law and the legal system.
Further, Briana’s interests in mock trials aligns with her professional focus on litigation. She practices primarily in products liability litigation, medical malpractice defense, general commercial litigation, and criminal defense. Her expertise in these areas informs her contributions to the mock trial program, helping to prepare students for real-world legal scenarios.