What: Three UC Davis law students will hone their skills for trying a murder case in one of their final team practices before a national competition in San Antonio March 18-20. The team of third-year students won a regional competition in San Francisco to advance to the National Trial Competition. Team members are Jesse Alexander, Casandra Furey and Tamara Pruett Swenson. The team will be among 24 from law schools in 12 regions to compete. It is the fourth time in 10 years that UC Davis has sent a team to the national competition. When: Saturday, March 13 The first three-hour practice session will start at 9 a.m. After a break for lunch, another session will begin at 2 p.m. Where: Moot Courtroom, King Hall, UC Davis. Visuals: Professor Ed Imwinkelried and Sacramento lawyer Daniel Boone will coach team members on the substance and style of their courtroom performance as they practice delivering opening and closing statements, questioning witnesses, and introducing evidence and exhibits. They will be using a special classroom furnished like a courtroom. Background: During the three preliminary rounds of the competition, the team will present, at least once, the cases for the prosecution and the defense in a hypothetical murder trial. After a woman is found strangled to death, her reference to "Jim" in a 911 call leads police to suspect her two ex-husbands, both named Jim. One man flees, and the other is charged with murder. Boone, who practices real estate and commercial litigation at Wanland & Bernstein, says the three students will have logged 200 hours of practice in trial skills by the time the competition concludes. "The experience translates into practical skills," says Boone, who participated in the competition -- once at the national level -- during the three years he studied law at UC Davis. "When the students finish, they'll know the how to prepare for and put on a trial," he said. Boone adds that coaching by Imwinkelried, a leading expert in evidence issues, has contributed to the team's particular strength in the presentation of evidence. The national competition is sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Texas Young Lawyers Association. Directions and Parking: From Interstate 80, take the UC Davis exit and head north on Old Davis Road. After passing an information kiosk, turn right at a stop sign and proceed on Old Davis Road. At a stoplight, turn left onto Mrak Hall Drive. King Hall is on the left. Proceed around the top of the drive and into Parking Lot #3 between Mrak Hall and King Hall. Leave a media business card on your dashboard as a parking permit, unless your vehicle is already marked.