Our Interview With Eliza Gunter, the Director of Operations and Training of the Claremont McKenna Mock Trial Team

By the Juris Education Interview Team

Elize Gunter is the Director of Operations and Training of the Claremont McKenna Mock Trial team. 

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

Mock trials are pretty standardized. Two teams “compete” by presenting either a prosecution/plaintiff case against a defense case based on the facts provided by AMTA (American Mock Trial Association). Each team calls three witnesses, who are examined by three different attorneys—same goes for cross-examination. The exams are bookended by an opening and closing argument from both sides. The rounds are scored on witness portrayals (how convincing they are, characterization, etc.) and attorney performance (volume, facts, presence). 

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? 

Leaving aside any familiarity with courtroom procedure that mock trial may be able to grant its competitors, by far the most important benefit is learning how to speak convincingly in public. Competitors are interested in a number of fields (certainly including but not limited to law), and their performance in these fields will be exponentially benefitted by learning to cooperate with other people, build a convincing argument, and speak assertively in front of a large group of people.

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

I think for a majority of competitors, including myself, they are one and the same: working well in a team. The ability to synthesize an entire team’s worth of ideas into a cogent narrative is the basis of mock trial, but it is also something I notice many teams, even teams that dominate the mock trial circuit, struggle to do. That being said, when I graduate and leave the world of collegiate mock trial, I think that late nights with my team, debriefing after a tough round, and passionate discussions about case theory will be my fondest memories. 

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

Honestly, from discussions with our amazing coaches and alumni, the great benefit of mock trial for law school is confidence. Confidence in some basic procedure, confidence in public speaking, confidence in collaboration. Being able to come into law school, a particularly daunting experience for any recent undergraduate, and have some semblance of “Hey, I got this” or “Yeah, I’ve seen this concept before” can really open up a lot of avenues for students to engage more critically and more easily with the foundations of law. 

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

That is something that is definitely up to each competitor—my advice may sound cliché, but really lean into the roles and experiences that give you the most joy. For me personally, that meant trying everything; I wanted to play witness and attorney roles, give closings and openings, and always compete seriously while also allowing myself to have fun and enjoy the ride. Another tip is to be in constant discussion and contact with your teammates. The times when I have felt the most engaged and knowledgeable about a mock trial case were when I was talking with my peers about strategy, the law, or witness portrayals. 

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

Typically, your competition experience will find you, not the other way around. With that being said, definitely look into whether your school has a team, and apply/try out even if you are still questioning if you are interested in the activity. Meeting other people with your interests is really invaluable, especially in undergrad when it feels like everyone is being pulled in a million different directions.

Juris Education is proud to interview experts like Eliza Gunter to help future lawyers understand the benefits of extracurricular involvement in college. Learn more about how our experts can help you get into law school today.