Our Interview With Karthik Rathinasabapathy, Vice President & Tournament Director Of Competitive Mock Trial Team At Virginia Tech

Karthik Rathinasabapathy is the Vice President & Tournament Director of Competitive Mock Trial Team at Virginia Tech.

What skills can aspiring law students gain from joining an organization like yours?

‍Mock Trial gives undergraduate students a prelude to basic case analysis in law school. The year begins with each university receiving a case packet consisting of around ten witnesses, some of whom can be called by either the plaintiff/prosecution or the defense. You have to dive deep into the fact pattern and evaluate what facts and pieces of evidence benefit both parties. It also provides students with familiarity on how operating in a courtroom works while building real knowledge of the Federal Rules of Evidence. 

What advice would you give law students on making the most out of their experience in a mock trial organization?

‍Really hone in on the rules of evidence. If you can learn how they work at the undergraduate level, they are almost completely transferable to the real world. I have consistently heard feedback from judges that the biggest thing they look for in a round is a strong grasp on objections. 

What has your law school preparation and application journey been like so far -- including opportunities and challenges?

I am still in the early stages of my law school application journey, as I am currently a rising junior, but it is going well. I am prepping for the LSAT and working on landing internships with legal professionals. Mock Trial has definitely helped with this because you are able to frequently network with attorneys who want to give back to their community. 

What's something you wish you had known about the law school application or preparation journey?

‍I wish I had known how important it is to start building relationships with legal professionals early. Not just for recommendations, but for genuine mentorship. A lot of people wait until they are deep into the application process to seek those connections out, and by then it feels transactional. The earlier you start, the more authentic those relationships become.

We're proud to interview student leaders like Karthik Rathinasabapathy to help future lawyers understand the benefits of extracurricular involvement.