Courtroom Chronicles: Big Red Mock Trial’s Success

Mock Trial, as its name suggests, allows participants to step into the shoes of attorneys, witnesses, and jurors, engaging in a simulated courtroom experience that mirrors legal proceedings. Over the past two weeks, Lawrenceville’s Big Red Mock Trial team has worked tirelessly in preparation for the annual Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial  Competition. In this year’s county rounds, the team analyzed a case determining a flea treatment company’s liability in the death of Sally, a show dog. Despite winter’s cold winds and slippery roads, the team kept up their dedicated practice sessions at Woods Memorial Hall, their hard work paying off as they finished the season as county finalists. 

The Big Red Mock Trial  team is advised by teacher coach Pier Kooistra H’14 P’20, along with attorney coaches Lydia Keephart and Christopher DeAngelo. This year, Kooistra was amazed by the amount of work each student put into figuring out the case. Despite the limited availability of both attorney coaches compared to prior years, he commended the group’s constant effort and ability to push through. Kooistra knows that Mock Trial cases often impose a series of challenges for students, with vast gaps in most of the evidence and affidavits. It is the student’s job to “build a solid foundation on top of a hole-filled landscape,” he explained, which requires both intellectual skills and sensibility. Looking ahead, Kooistra is ready for the next Mock Trial season, with his experience of working with “wonderful people.”

Arya Vishwakarma ’25 was this year’s plaintiff attorney of the team. Her Mock Trial experience traces back to her freshman year at Princeton Day School, where she was an alternate and timekeeper. As a new III Former at Lawrenceville, Vishwakarma was surprised that everyone on the Mock Trial team juggled so many different responsibilities at once. Although it was the same activity, Lawrenceville’s team felt like a new start. She soon grew to love and appreciate Mock Trial at Lawrenceville, especially because of how Harkness education directly plays into it. While Vishwakarma’s past roles included a heart doctor and spoiled student, this year she took on the position of plaintiff attorney, an experience she found refreshing. She describes Mock Trial as a “combination of performing arts and academic thinking,” derived from the way one speaks or moves around the courtroom while presenting their ideas. While she has yet to decide on a specific career path, Vishwakarma believes she wouldn’t have thought about going to law school if it weren’t for her high school Mock Trial experiences.

Michelle Zhang ’25, another V Form leader on the Mock Trial  team, finished her season as the team’s defense attorney, along with co-council Ellie Turchetta ’25. Zhang also began Mock Trial in her II Form year, simply because of her interest in law and the club’s popularity among her friends. Although she believes Mock Trial is intense—its workload requires numerous meetings and hours of practice—Zhang appreciates the “great community” she got to experience as a member of the Big Red Mock Trial  team. Not only did she bond with her teammates, but with her three years of experience as a defense attorney, she was also able to mentor other peers. Zhang values the real-life experiences that Mock Trials offer. Most competitions take place in actual courtrooms, such as the Mercer County Criminal Courthouse where Lawrenceville’s team competed. Therefore, Zhang values the time she spent with professional attorneys and judges throughout the process. Overall, she is grateful for the team’s hard work towards a big goal. 

Among the experienced team members was Eric Chen ’27, who participated in the competition for the first time. During his II Form year, he observed and learned from the team’s V Form members as an alternate. This year, Chen played the role of W. Pat O’Connell, the C.E.O. of Petzicon Products Inc. who was sued for legal negligence. He commented that the people, coaches, and trials were great, making for an “incredibly fun” Mock Trial experience. Chen values the judicial system as one of the most important institutions of society, which is often “poorly understood.” Therefore, he believes that Mock Trial allows students to “look behind that shroud of mystery” and improve their critical thinking, argumentative, and analytical abilities. He admits to picturing himself sitting at the counsel table as an actual lawyer, a vision stemming from Mock Trial at Lawrenceville. 

In today’s fast-paced world, persuasion and quick response are becoming increasingly important skills. An exciting and engaging way for students to develop those skills is through Mock Trial, a taste of what may be considered the ‘adult’ world. Whether in the courtroom or beyond, the skills and confidence gained through Mock Trial will inspire members of the Big Red Mock Trial  team, a reward well-deserved for their commitment to excellence.