mocktrial

UC Irvine’s Mock Trial team has the best overall three-year record in the country, according to the American Mock Trial Association. The squad bested 600 others–including lineups from Harvard University, Yale University, UCLA and UC Berkeley–for the designation. The 22-person team participates in simulations of criminal and civil trials involving anything from wrongful death to product liability. Members are assigned the roles of lawyers, judges or witnesses. As mock lawyers, they present opening and closing statements and conduct cross-examinations. Their “performances” are rated by professional attorneys and judges. “A lot of our members do want to go to law school, but we also have physics, dance and drama majors,” said Laureen Bousmail, the team’s vice president. “It’s a great way to network with legal professionals while working hard and developing great friendships.” The group is recruiting new members for the fall quarter and will host informational meetings at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, in the Student Center’s Doheny Beach C and D conference rooms; at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30, in the Student Center’s Crescent Bay C and D conference rooms; and at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, in the Student Center’s Doheny Beach C conference room. No experience is necessary, and the team accepts students of all year levels. The squad can be found on Facebook.