Mock Trial continues a 14-year-long legacy
Fae Rabin
Issue date: 4/27/09 Section: Features
Media Credit: Fae Rabin2009 marks another the end of yet another successful year for the UIC Mock Trial team.
UIC's nationally-ranked Mock Trial team is closing another successful season by competing at the American Mock Trial Association [AMTA] Nationals Championship which is currently taking place in Des Moines, Iowa, which started Apr. 16.
Mock Trial at UIC qualified to compete at nationals for 14 consecutive years. Both UIC teams ranked at this year's Regional Tournament which took place in February in South Bend, Ind., at Notre Dame University. At the Regional Tournament, Yasmin Ali, a senior, received an Outstanding Attorney Award, and Majdi Sweis, a junior, received an Outstanding Attorney and Witness Award.
This year, UIC's qualifying team took home a third-place trophy at its Super-Regional Tournament. UIC defeated Northwestern University, Notre Dame University and the University of Pennsylvania; and junior Shannon Heath ranked as an attorney and received an Outstanding Attorney Award.
Each year, AMTA provides a fictional civil or criminal case to participating universities, which the teams prepare for trial. The 19 members of UIC's team met throughout the year, starting in the fall, taking on the roles of both attorneys and witnesses. This year was a civil case brought by a politician accusing a national news network of ruining his reputation when they falsely accused the politician of murder. The case material provides and allows the members to simulate a real trial brought to court.
Sophomore Bob O' Malley, a co-captain, said, "The proudest moment of the year was when the whole team qualified for Super-Regionals."
Junior Amandeep Gill, the other co-captain, exclaimed, "I can't pick one single moment, but I would say the proudest thing about being co-captain is being able to see our new members grow and develop as strong Mock Trial attorneys and witnesses, so our program not only has the ability to win this year, but years to come."
The returning team members begin meeting as early as early September, just after the school year begins. Tryouts for prospective members are also held in September in the Behavioral Sciences Building. Individuals trying out complete an application, have a one-on-one interview with the captains, and present an opening argument from a previous year's case; this is done in order to show the level of their public speaking skills, but more importantly, to show their enthusiasm and energy.
As soon as the new team members are announced, the team begins working on the case, using "Trial Techniques" by Thomas Mauet as resource. The coaches, Nicholas Gowen, Victor Erbring and Robyn Haynes, are all practicing attorneys who served as captains of UIC Mock Trial when they attended UIC during their undergrad years. The team also practices at the Daley Center every Thursday in order to work in a real courtroom setting with Judge Abishi C. Cunningham and Patrick Reardon, an attorney.
Victor Erbring, a coach for three years, said, "Mock Trial made me know that being a trial attorney would be my life's calling."
The coaches work closely with the team members, teaching them not only how to be successful within the Mock Trial setting, but also to promote trial advocacy.
Robyn Haynes, now coaching for her third year, said, "If someone is truly thinking of law school and a career in litigation, Mock Trial will absolutely give you the tools needed to excel in trial advocacy in law school and prepare you to litigate your first trial as a licensed attorney. I owe my time on the team during college to many of my successes as a practicing criminal defense attorney."
Students who partake in Mock Trial also receive course credit in the spring semester. For those who are political science majors, the credit goes towards their major.
Nicholas Gowen, a coach for four years, said of this year's performance: "I am proud of the team's perseverance, dedication and hard work over the last eight months, which has culminated in the team competing for the National Championship. The season started in August with nearly 600 teams across the country, and it is now down to the top 48. It is a great accomplishment for the students and the University. I am proud of our success over the last 14 years and am hopeful that we will continue to succeed for years to come."
Anyone interested in joining the UIC Mock Trial team next year should e-mail uicmocktrial@gmail.com.
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Mock Trial at UIC qualified to compete at nationals for 14 consecutive years. Both UIC teams ranked at this year's Regional Tournament which took place in February in South Bend, Ind., at Notre Dame University. At the Regional Tournament, Yasmin Ali, a senior, received an Outstanding Attorney Award, and Majdi Sweis, a junior, received an Outstanding Attorney and Witness Award.
This year, UIC's qualifying team took home a third-place trophy at its Super-Regional Tournament. UIC defeated Northwestern University, Notre Dame University and the University of Pennsylvania; and junior Shannon Heath ranked as an attorney and received an Outstanding Attorney Award.
Each year, AMTA provides a fictional civil or criminal case to participating universities, which the teams prepare for trial. The 19 members of UIC's team met throughout the year, starting in the fall, taking on the roles of both attorneys and witnesses. This year was a civil case brought by a politician accusing a national news network of ruining his reputation when they falsely accused the politician of murder. The case material provides and allows the members to simulate a real trial brought to court.
Sophomore Bob O' Malley, a co-captain, said, "The proudest moment of the year was when the whole team qualified for Super-Regionals."
Junior Amandeep Gill, the other co-captain, exclaimed, "I can't pick one single moment, but I would say the proudest thing about being co-captain is being able to see our new members grow and develop as strong Mock Trial attorneys and witnesses, so our program not only has the ability to win this year, but years to come."
The returning team members begin meeting as early as early September, just after the school year begins. Tryouts for prospective members are also held in September in the Behavioral Sciences Building. Individuals trying out complete an application, have a one-on-one interview with the captains, and present an opening argument from a previous year's case; this is done in order to show the level of their public speaking skills, but more importantly, to show their enthusiasm and energy.
As soon as the new team members are announced, the team begins working on the case, using "Trial Techniques" by Thomas Mauet as resource. The coaches, Nicholas Gowen, Victor Erbring and Robyn Haynes, are all practicing attorneys who served as captains of UIC Mock Trial when they attended UIC during their undergrad years. The team also practices at the Daley Center every Thursday in order to work in a real courtroom setting with Judge Abishi C. Cunningham and Patrick Reardon, an attorney.
Victor Erbring, a coach for three years, said, "Mock Trial made me know that being a trial attorney would be my life's calling."
The coaches work closely with the team members, teaching them not only how to be successful within the Mock Trial setting, but also to promote trial advocacy.
Robyn Haynes, now coaching for her third year, said, "If someone is truly thinking of law school and a career in litigation, Mock Trial will absolutely give you the tools needed to excel in trial advocacy in law school and prepare you to litigate your first trial as a licensed attorney. I owe my time on the team during college to many of my successes as a practicing criminal defense attorney."
Students who partake in Mock Trial also receive course credit in the spring semester. For those who are political science majors, the credit goes towards their major.
Nicholas Gowen, a coach for four years, said of this year's performance: "I am proud of the team's perseverance, dedication and hard work over the last eight months, which has culminated in the team competing for the National Championship. The season started in August with nearly 600 teams across the country, and it is now down to the top 48. It is a great accomplishment for the students and the University. I am proud of our success over the last 14 years and am hopeful that we will continue to succeed for years to come."
Anyone interested in joining the UIC Mock Trial team next year should e-mail uicmocktrial@gmail.com.
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