Alfred K. Murray: Competitions are Best Supplement
to Classroom Learning

For Alfred K. Murray II, hands-on experience has been one of the best teachers.

"Participating in moot court and mediation competitions provides a much needed supplement to my legal education," says Murray, the newly elected chief justice of the John Marshall Moot Court Program.

"Classes only prepare me for final exams. I've learned how to analyze complex issues quickly and become a better listener through these competitions. Ultimately, those are the skills I'll need to be an effective attorney."

Murray's got a track record to prove it.

During the 2006-2007 academic year, Murray was a member of the team that competed in the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition. Murray and teammate Marques Rice won first place honors in national competition after winning in the regional competition hosted by the Black Law Students Association. He also won the fourth place Best Mediator Award at the 2007 International Academy of Dispute Resolution Mediation Team.

Now Murray directs the activities of John Marshall's various teams. As chief justice of the Moot Court Program, he is responsible for implementing the interscholastic Herzog Moot Court Competition for John Marshall students, as well as John Marshall's competing teams.

The Moot Court Program is an honors program open to the top students at John Marshall. It gives these students an opportunity to practice appellate advocacy skills. Students compete across the country on one of 27 teams. Competitions, in fall and spring semesters, focus on a specific legal issue that is presented as a problem. John Marshall students research the issue, formulate arguments around the issue, write briefs and in competition present oral arguments before a panel of judges.

Murray, a native of Pleasanton, Calif., moved east to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He graduated in 2001 with a degree in political science, and accepted a job working for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago-James Jordan Unit. He did a variety of things during his three years of employment, but his emphasis was always on academic and social skill development for teenagers.

"Working at Boys & Girls Clubs was the best thing that happened to me. I discovered the intangible value of making a real difference in the life of a young person," he said.

Murray remains committed to the mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs and continues to serve on the organization's College Bound Advisory Board, and the Keystone Leadership Club Advisory Board.

It was also during those three years that Murray was the Chicago city-wide chapter President of Phi Rho Eta Fraternity, Inc., an organization of charismatic men striving to model and teach exemplary positive behavior through the universal aspects of academics, community service, and social interaction with others. The Chapter implemented the fraternity's mentoring program, Mentor Teacher Brother, at Corliss High School during his tenure.

As a John Marshall student, Murray has continued to make a strong impression through his work. In summer 2006, he was a judicial extern for Cook County Circuit Court Judge Abishi C. Cunningham. Murray was a Criminal Enforcement Division Law Clerk in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General in fall 2006, and in summer 2007, he was a summer associate at the law firm of Swanson, Martin & Bell LLP.

Murray is planning for a career as a trial attorney after graduating from John Marshall in May 2008. Initially, he plans to practice law in Chicago.