I knew the facts of the case and my argument like the back of my hand, but at the same time I didn't know what to expect.  After questioning my witness, the Judge asked me if I had any more evidence to present, which I thought meant go ahead with my argument.  So, I stood up and suggested that the defense go first as the prosecution bears the burden of proving the validity of the confession.  I really thought I knew what I was talking about, but a grin came across the Judge's face as he kindly informed me that he was only asking if I would like to call any more witnesses.  How embarrassing.
 

I was a bit deflated but still had some confidence in my argument, that is, until I heard the defendant's argument.  It was not what I expected, and it actually made a portion of my argument totally irrelevant.  The Judge just smiled as I plugged my way through my argument.  Although at first totally embarrassed about my blunders, I realized that everyone in the room knew that I didn't know what I was doing.  The Judge and the defense attorney were both very nice and just sat by as I stumbled my way through my first motion hearing.

 

In the end, the defendant's motion was overruled, and I was relieved to learn that my mistakes didn't affect the outcome.  Although nothing went as planned and I felt a bit overwhelmed at times, it was one of the most educational and rewarding experiences I've had while in law school.  I can't wait to try it again.