Bridging the Theories and Practices of Healthcare and Law: A Student-Led Interprofessional Mock Trial Integrating Pharmacy Practice and Legal Education.

Abstract

This article describes a student-led interprofessional mock trial designed to explore the legal and regulatory dimensions of pharmacy practice through collaboration between law students and pharmacy students at the University of Mississippi. Developed by the Interprofessional Education (IPE) Board, the mock trial provides an immersive learning experience that simulates real-world legal proceedings involving pharmacists. Students work in interdisciplinary teams to create original case files including fact patterns, deposition transcripts, and trial evidence - based on scenarios involving professional misconduct, medication errors, or regulatory violations. Faculty advisors from both the law and pharmacy school provide guidance to ensure accuracy and educational value. The mock trial involves multiple rounds judged by legal and healthcare professionals, offering students a dynamic platform to develop professional communication, critical thinking, and collaborative skills. Law students gain practical insight into healthcare law while pharmacy students deepen their understanding of legal accountability, compliance, and the stages of a professional liability lawsuit. This interdisciplinary mock trial approach can especially be beneficial to law schools and law students desiring practical skills in healthcare and malpractice litigation, given that - unlike medical schools' and pharmacy schools' clinical programs - law schools' courses involving medical liability issues frequently do not have a clinical component offering practical experience in malpractice litigation. In sum, this article offers a descriptive account of the mock trial, highlighting its structure, implementation, and replicability.