Our Interview With Aniyah Nelson, President of the Brown Mock Trial Team

By the Juris Education Interview Team

Aniyah Nelson is the President of Brown University's Mock Trial team.

1. What is the typical format(s) of a mock trial or moot court competition?

Every fall, the American Mock Trial Association—the governing body of collegiate Mock Trial—releases a fictional legal case that contains witness affidavits and reports, exhibits, case law, and a number of other legal documents. Like real legal professionals, AMTA competitors consistently work to prepare and refine their Plaintiff/Prosecution and Defense cases at tournaments that take place throughout the competitive season. Hosted by colleges and universities across the country, these tournaments typically field around 24 teams.

At every competition, there are four rounds. In each round, a team from one college/university represents one side of the case (ex. Plaintiff/Prosecution), and a team from another college/university represents the other (ex. Defense). The trial begins with pretrial matters and opening statements, which are followed by the Plaintiff/Prosecution’s case-in-chief, the Defense’s case-in-chief, before ultimately concluding with closing arguments. Three attorneys and three witnesses perform on each side. Each attorney performs a direct examination of one of their side’s witnesses, as well as a cross examination of one of the other side’s witnesses; two of the attorneys on each side will also deliver a statement (either the opening statement or the closing argument). Attorneys develop formal public speaking skills, including thinking on their feet and speaking with confidence and professionalism. For witnesses, the focus is on their acting skills; their goal is to convincingly portray a character, maintain that character in high-pressure situations, and successfully capture the jury’s attention. Judges use a point system to evaluate attorneys and witnesses on their performance; the team that earns the most points on a judge’s ballot wins that ballot, with the goal being to win as many ballots as possible at any given tournament.

2. What are some of the biggest takeaways or real-world benefits that students gain from participating in a mock trial or moot court competition?

Mock Trial confers several skills that you’ll need for a successful legal career. I explain those benefits in greater detail below, but one benefit that I believe is frequently overlooked is how much exposure AMTA competitors get to legal professionals. One of Brown Mock Trial’s head coaches practices commercial litigation for one of the largest law firms in Rhode Island, and the majority of our rounds are judged by judges and litigators, as well as law students and professors. These litigators work in bankruptcy, immigration law, medical malpractice, entertainment law, and a wide array of other legal specialty areas. After the conclusion of a round, competitors will often ask judges for legal career advice, ask law students what their experience has been like so far, or may just want to receive feedback on their performance. Regardless of the reason why a competitor may want to interact with their judges, these networking opportunities can be a valuable resource for competitors.

3. What’s the most challenging and the most rewarding aspect of participating in such a competition?

In AMTA cases, the witnesses that each side calls during any given round are determined using a draft system. While some witnesses are side-constrained, others can be called by either side. This means that your opponent’s theory of the case, as well as their witness lineup, can change completely from round to round. Ultimately, this makes responsivity one of Mock Trial’s most challenging aspects. That being said, being able to successfully pivot and respond to a theory that you may not have seen before, while winning ballots in the process, feels incredibly rewarding as a competitor.

4. How do mock trials help students feel prepared for a career in law?

Mock Trial teaches competitors how to convey complex legal arguments in a simple, succinct manner. Our case packets can be anywhere from 210 to 290 pages long, and the most successful teams are the ones that are able to distill that high volume of information down, and effectively present it to a panel of judges that are completely unfamiliar with the case’s fact pattern. Depending on the case that an opponent chooses to present, competitors often have to reference different pieces of evidence and documents within the case packet in every round. The best litigators are the most prepared ones, and this activity does a great job of teaching you the art of adaptability.

From a performance perspective, Mock Trial also teaches competitors that how we present information is often just as important as what information we present. The nation’s best teams are all incredibly skilled at developing convincing legal arguments; the factor that distinguishes us from one another is how we modulate our tone and speed, use the space within a courtroom, and maintain the jury’s attention.

5. How can students make the most of a mock trial competition or program?

You should continue to put in the work to improve even if you don’t see the results immediately. As a Mock Trial competitor, your progress may not always be linear, and in all likelihood, there will be many ups and downs. Nevertheless, as you become more comfortable explaining the rules of evidence, delivering a statement, preparing a response on cross-examination, and doing all of the other things that Mock Trial may require, you’ll be able to see the difference. Whether that means an improvement in the quality of the content that you write, your public speaking abilities, or your confidence, each is an important step forward in your Mock Trial journey. Also, enjoy the time that you spend with your teammates. All of the late night practices, team meals, and long tournament weekends can help you form incredible friendships with the people around you. Some of my closest friends are my fellow Brown Mock Trial competitors, and those bonds extend far beyond the walls of a courtroom.

6. What advice would you give to those who are trying to find the right mock trial competition for them?

Mock Trial is a team-based activity; we win as a team, and we lose as a team. If you’re looking for an activity where you are solely determinative of your competitive results, then Mock Trial may not be for you. However, if the thought of collaborating with others to craft and perfect your team’s case theory, statements and examinations, and objection arguments is exciting to you, then I’d definitely recommend giving Mock Trial a try! I love Brown Mock Trial, and can’t imagine my time as a Brown undergraduate without the people or the experiences that this activity has given me.

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