One of Northwestern’s mock trial teams has triumphed over competitors from 300 other colleges to qualify for a national tournament next week.
Out of NU’s four teams that competed in a regional competition, two will compete at the national level. The silver team will compete at the St. Paul, Minn., national competition from March 15 to 17 while the gold team will be traveling to the National Championship Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa from April 5 to 7.
“When they called our team for the national bid at the awards ceremony, no one got up or cheered,” said Lena Konanova, member of the silver team and Weinberg freshman. “We thought they made a mistake.”
Mock Trial enacts court trials from case information the team receives ahead of time. In each tournament, the team plays the defense or prosecution, providing evidence, cross-examining witnesses, and giving opening and closing arguments. The competing team then takes the opposing side.
Medill senior Amy Collen who was named an “All-American Attorney” in the 2001 tournament, will be joining the gold team on their Des Moines trip.
“Mock Trial makes you think on your feet and adapt to unforeseen situations,” Collen said.
The teams prepare for regionals for three months and compete regularly at school invitationals, giving members experience in organizing cases and articulating ideas, Collen said.
“People on the team bring many different skills to the table, like public speaking, acting or arguing – it’s a prerequisite to enjoy debating,” she said.
Mock Trial adviser Ari Fisz said presenting cases teaches more than the nuts and bolts of law. The 28-year-old lawyer at Gardner, Carton & Douglas in Chicago emphasizes learning to deal with different approaches to cases.
“I’m a fan of preparation, but some wing it,” Fisz said. “Those who don’t prepare usually end up doing fine, but they give me a heart attack in the process.”
Weinberg senior Ankur Srivastava, silver team captain, admitted he may contribute to Fisz’s anxiety.
“If you’re over-prepared, it can look scripted and you don’t react with composure when something unexpected happens. If you’re more natural, you can respond accordingly as the situation changes,” Srivastava said. “It drives our coaches crazy, but it works for us.”
Mock Trial President Kate Nilan said NU’s team has an advantage over other teams because there are six coaches. Besides Fisz, practicing lawyer Nabil Foster and law students Paul Chadha, Alicia Hawley, Tracy LeRoy and Steve Martin work with the teams.
“We had some growing pains because we didn’t know how to deal with the increase of members,” said Nilan, a Speech senior. “The coaches really helped us adjust.”
