Trial Advocacy Honors Board Position: Presiding Barrister.
Q: As the Presiding Barrister, do you have more of an interest in the negotiation or the trial team aspect that the Center highlights?
A: More the trial team. I wish I knew more about the negotiation side of it, but there is only so much time in the day.
Q: When did you become interested in working on a trial team?
A: In my undergraduate days, I participated on a mock trial team, and I’ve been interested ever since.
Q: Has your interest waned over time?
A: Some days I love it more than others (laughing), but overall I still love it as much.
Q: For people interested in becoming team members, briefly describe the kind of work that is required.
A: Being on a team is a lot of work. It takes a lot of preparation because everything you say must be well-rehearsed, but it is beneficial because you get a chance to work up a case all the way through. You get a good understanding of what you need to know to conduct a trial, and I think and hope that it will make you a better attorney when you graduate.
Q: For first year students pondering which honors council to join: Moot Court, Law Review, RIPL, etc., what sets the Trial Advocacy and Dispute Resolution Honors Board and Council apart?
A: For those students who don’t know what they want to do yet, joining the Council would be beneficial because there are a lot of areas and activities covered from trial teams to arbitration, negotiation, mediation, and client counseling. You still can experience the trial aspect of law to see if you want to litigate for a career, but get some experience in ADR-related skills training, too. Even those interested in appellate work, understanding how trials are conducted can make you a better appellate lawyer.
Q: Are you pleased with the quality of teams this semester?
A: This semester is one of the strongest the school has had in terms of teams. We have a lot of talent and high expectations.
Q: Is there anything in closing that you would like to say to perspective or current members?
A: To prospective members, try it out. There are a lot of good people here, and you can make some friends as well as network with practicing attorneys. Also, doing a team makes classes like Evidence and Trial Advocacy much easier.
Q: Thank you so much, again, for having taken the time to participate in this interview, and best of luck with the semester.
A: Absolutely, you’re welcome.
