The Verdict Is In: Mock Trial Club Learns the Law and Judicial System

Upper School students have the opportunity to learn about the judicial system through hands-on experience to gain an understanding of society's approach to dispute resolution and justice. This experiential learning opportunity comes via the newly established Mock Trial Club. Upper School history teacher Dr. Nuray Ibryamova serves as the faculty advisor. 

The club formation was spearheaded by junior Linda Chen, who was inspired to have a club on campus that created an opportunity for fellow students who have similar interests of law and politics to learn more about the judicial process and stimulate interest in possible law-related careers. Current club members include juniors Adam Mandelbaum, Jack Cucchiarelli, Ravindu Karunaratne, Julia Scalmani, and Sophia Vash; sophomores Ben Greenberg, Lily Evans and Sunny Kim; and freshmen Mia Aisin, Madelon Parke, and Silin Razza-Baril.  

“I really wanted to create a club that is career-driven where students are able to learn and understand law firsthand by having a case presented to them and having to logically think it out as being a lawyer,” said Linda.  “With law, there is a lot of jargon and there are not many programs for high school students who are interested in the subject matter to learn it. I wanted to provide that experience for students who can't get that anywhere else.”

The Mock Trial Club focuses on teaching members about the legal system, public speaking, critical thinking, and argumentation. Club members practice how to ask questions, how to respond to questions, and how to argue the law. They collaborate on case topics, learn the rules of impeachment, and prepare for the competitions. The team competed in its first and only competition of the season in December.

The competition was organized by the Connecticut Bar Association at the New Haven Courthouse with participating members including Linda, Ravindu, Sophia, Lily, Sunny, Mia, Madelon, and Silin. The students prepared two cases, one for the prosecution against Amity High School and one for the defense against Hamden High School. Overall, the team placed second with all of the competitors receiving high marks and Sophia winning a perfect score on her closing.

To prepare for the competition, club members began meeting in September with Dr. Ibryamova where they worked on question prompts, cross examination, direct examination, how to write opening and closing statements, and the overall workings of a courtroom. Most importantly, they dedicated months to studying case material, brainstorming strategies, and rehearsing arguments. With her past experience of attending law camps over the summer, Linda helped fellow members with understanding the overall process. She also reached out to Kaylyn Terry, a legal advisor and mock trial advisor at Quinnipiac University, to serve as an outside coach to help everyone understand the legal jargon more clearly and answer any questions the students had. 

“The Mock Trial Competition has been an unforgettable experience for all of us, and we are excited to use the skills we have gained in future competitions,” noted Sunny. “Despite being a new club, the team’s hard work and success in a competitive environment was an exceptional achievement.”

While the club members have no current competitions lined up for the spring season, both Linda and Dr. Ibryamova said they hope the club continues to be strong moving forward.