Back and better than ever, South’s Mock trial team is ready for revenge. After not making it to states last year, the instructor, Peter Palen, is determined to make the State competition. On March 1, South’s Mock trial team will be competing in the Macomb County tournament. Along with Palen, Marina Fuga, the attorney coach, is helping the team with key concepts like objections as well as direct and cross examinations. With the hard scoring judges and juries, Fuga is concentrating on increasing the team’s abilities to be prepared for anything.
“The key to winning a case is knowing every detail about the witnesses so you [lawyer] can catch their mistake,” Fuga said. “Judges look for confidence in the attorneys to trust and know they have prepared for any outcome of the case.”
Fuga encourages preparation before the trial to look confident before the judge. With her experience in real trials, judges will be frustrated when they see the attorney unfamiliar with the case, because they will have to put in more work. A big part of a mock trial is not only being knowledgeable about the case, but acting with emotion.
“Go into court knowing that you have done all you can to prepare,” Fuga said. “Most importantly though, don’t let the nerves get to you.
