Students experience mock trials at Norton Rose Fulbright
A student committee poses during a jury deliberation.
March 3, 2023
When students had the opportunity to skip a day of school to serve on jury duty, they took it.
A select group of sophomores, juniors and seniors participated in a mock trial at the Norton Rose Fulbright law offices on Feb. 28.
Students spent a day at the Norton Rose Fulbright offices, serving as a practice jury for future attorneys in their last step before they can practice professionally.
This year’s mock trial was chaperoned by Dr. Ed Harris, teacher and chair of the history and social sciences department, and Upper School dean James Onwuachi.
Many of the high school students on the trip did not know what a real courtroom is like and have never participated in a jury.
“It allowed me to experience what a real trial is like, and it allowed me to learn a lot more about the judicial system as a whole,” sophomore Haley Alexander said.
The mock trial was extremely beneficial for students who want to have a legal career in the future.
“I thought it was a good experience because I got to watch real lawyers in action,” sophomore Irene Capitano said.
Once the lawyers finished their closing statements, the members of the mock trial went into a separate room to answer questions about the case.
“There was a lot of debating because we could not agree on a decision,” Capitano said.
Once a decision was made, the mock trial members re-entered the courtroom and critiqued the lawyers and attorneys. Students told them what they liked, what was very efficient and what they should work on improving.
The future lawyers and attorneys expressed appreciation for what the students had to say.
