A University of Wisconsin Law School mock trial team defeated Georgetown University Sunday to win the 2010 National Student Trial Advocacy Competition.
This season marked both the first ever regional and national championship wins for the mock trial team in the school’s history, said Rhonda Lanford, co-coach of the team and partner of local law firm Habush Habush & Rottier.
“We knew that we were good going into it,” third-year law student Hanna Kolberg said. “It was pretty shocking, though, that we actually did so well.”
Two UW Law School mock trial teams squared off in the finals during the regional championship in Detroit at the end of February. The team comprised of Kolberg, third-year law student Andrew Rima, second-year law student Matthew Van Keulen and first-year law student Kerry Gabrielson advanced to the national competition.
This team competed against the other 13 regional winners in New Orleans at nationals this past weekend, team captain Rima added, with their fellow UW law students at their side in support.
A Civil Education Justice Fund grant allowed the second UW team to join the competing team in New Orleans, Lanford said. She added she appreciated their support.
“It was a tremendous impact and a tremendous morale booster,” Lanford said. “They were not only our cheering section, but they also helped the team… prepare for the competition by continuing to practice with them.”
According to Lanford, the team’s success this year resulted from a unique mix of hard-working, talented and motivated people. A couple of great speakers and dedicated coaches’ grueling training regimen paid off when the team won Sunday, Kolberg added.
“I would say a whirlwind is probably the best word (to describe the championship experience),” Rima said. “We were exhausted by the end to say the least.”
The winning team members received $2,500 scholarships and an American Association for Justice funded trip to Vancouver this summer as a reward for their efforts.
Rima added he believes this victory will earn respect for UW’s Law School and mock trial program, and the experience will benefit him in a future career as a trial lawyer.
