Attorneys Cameron Grant and Keith Edwards coach rival high school teams in Colorado Mock Trial State Tournament

Two Lyons Gaddis attorneys in Longmont are stepping into an unusual role this week, not as colleagues, but as friendly courtroom rivals.

Cameron Grant, shareholder, and Keith Edwards, of counsel, are coaching their respective high school alma maters as they compete in the 2026 Colorado High School Mock Trial State Tournament, taking place at the Larimer County Justice Center in Fort Collins.

Grant, a Niwot High School graduate, coaches the Niwot mock trial team alongside his wife, Erika. Edwards, who recently joined Lyons Gaddis and graduated from Fairview High School in Boulder, has coached the Fairview mock trial team since 2014.

Both teams advanced to the state competition following strong performances at the Boulder County Regional Mock Trial Tournament, where Fairview finished in first place and Niwot took second.

The Colorado High School Mock Trial Program, sponsored by the Colorado Bar Association, allows students to experience the legal process firsthand. Participants take on the roles of attorneys and witnesses, presenting cases, conducting examinations, and arguing evidentiary issues in real courthouse settings before judges.

For Grant and Edwards, coaching a mock trial is about more than preparing students for competition. The program helps students build confidence, public speaking skills, analytical thinking, and persuasive communication abilities, skills that will benefit them regardless of the careers they pursue.

Both attorneys are passionate about mentoring students and supporting programs that introduce young people to the legal profession while fostering professionalism, ethics, and teamwork.

The state tournament will bring dozens of teams from across Colorado together, with the winning team advancing to the National High School Mock Trial Championship.

While Grant and Edwards may find themselves on opposing sides of the courtroom during the competition, they share the same goal: helping students grow, develop their voices, and gain real-world experience in the law.

Read the full BizWest article to learn more about this unique rivalry and the students competing in the Colorado Mock Trial State Tournament:
https://bizwest.com/2026/03/09/longmont-attorneys-shift-from-colleagues-to-rivals-in-mock-trial-competition/