Te judges and the audience gave both teams a standing ovation at the Regional Championship.


both at the state and regional competition. “I am so glad that I did mock trial this year,” she said. “It was my first year and I loved it so much. I know I have become a better public speaker and it has made me more sure that I want to go to law school. Te regional competition was very well judged and so fun to participate in! Tose weeks were hard to balance with a St Mary's School girl's schedule, but it was worth it in the end!” Te commitment to dress up, come downtown and compete


for several hours, six days in a two-week period demonstrates the importance of mock trial to these local students. Gordon Pera, who graduated from White Station High


School in 2010, fondly remembers his time participating in mock trial, on teams that won the state tournament and went on to the national competition. “Mock trial is one of the biggest reasons I'm considering


law school,” said Pera. "It taught me that memorization and repetition are skills you can use outside of a classroom as well as how to think on my feet in a high pressure environment, all in a few hours a couple times a week. While winning was a great reward in the end, my coach, Buddy Bernstein, treated us like professionals and ensured that we learned not just witness statements and evidence presented, but the Rules of Evidence and the law at hand.”


ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kristen Stewart is the Director of Communications for the Memphis Bar Association.


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