The mock trial club at Iowa State University has been training for months to win the upcoming regionals, practicing six hours a week and collaborating with legal professionals.
“The club is for kids who have a passion for litigation,” Brody Paxton, vice president of the mock trial club and a senior studying marketing, said.
The main focus of the club is training for the regional competition taking place Saturday. Through the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), the team hopes to compete in nationals.
To start the season, the Mock Trial Club assigned attorney and witness roles.
“Then you go on to practice trials, whereby you pretend you’re in a real competition round, so you can familiarize yourself with the part and after that it’s memorization, character, outfits, accents, demonstratives, hit the roads and hit the courtroom running and win, of course, if you are like us,” Andrew Kirpes, president of Mock Trial Club and a sophomore studying math on the pre-law track, said.
This is the club’s first year being AMTA certified, so it is their first time competing in regionals. When it comes to winning, they are not shy.
“Oh yeah, we are going to be [winning],” Kirpes said. “I did two years in high school, and we went undefeated at nationals, so yes, I am a national champion.”
To join the team, members auditioned by writing a rough draft opening statement based on a line of facts and presenting it to the club president.
In addition to developing the case, the mock trial club partners with attorneys, law firms and law schools.
“Come stop by, it’s fun, it’s a good time,” Paxton said. “Everyone there is nice and willing to help, everyone enjoys meeting new people and teaching how to do a mock trial. It is a really inviting culture.”
“Mock trial is really great for a lot of different people, specifically because we have the firm, fact-based, logical reasoning, argumentation side of things for attorneys,” Kirpes said. “So if you want to look at a set of facts, figure out the most likely persuasive line of reasoning based off those and then perform, then we have a great spot for you as an attorney. If you are more on the performative, character-based motive side of things, we have a great spot for you as a witness.”
The club meets in room 0298 in Carver from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information, visit their webpage.
