(Photo courtesy of UML Mock Trial) “The Mock Trial A-team stands for a photograph after their first-place win.”

Sabine Laurent de Cannon

Connector Staff

On the weekend of Oct. 19th, UML’s Dr. Francis T. Talty ‘77 Pre-Law Society’s Mock Trial A-team achieved a first-place victory at the Third Annual Tupper Classic Invitational. The invitational was hosted by Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The A-team competed with Boston College, UMass Amherst, Northeastern, and MIT, to name a few. UMass Lowell secured seven wins, with Northeastern following closely behind with six-and-a-half and UMass Amherst finishing third with six wins. Mock Trial’s president, David Levenson, explained the event: “Bryant [University] has held this tournament for three years and invites great programs…each team competes in four rounds, and two judges score each round. Four rounds and two judges are eight ballots, and a team places based on how many ballots they win in total.” During the two-day contest, the A-team faced off against Boston College, Colby, Northeastern, and the University of Rochester. By the conclusion of the third round, the A-team was first with a 6-0 streak, and Northeastern trailed with a score of 5.5-0.5. The two universities then confronted each other in the final round, splitting the ballots and securing Lowell’s 7-1 triumph. 

Along with leading the team, Levenson achieved an “Outstanding Attorney” individual award for his performance as a defense attorney. Levenson has won this award thrice thus far during his three-year tenure at the Talty ‘77 Pre-Law Society. He was also the highest-ranking attorney at the 2023 Annual Wildcat AMTA Invitational Tournament. The A-team, led by Levenson, includes Vice-President Emily Johnson and the remainder of the pre-law society’s Executive Board: Sasha Orr, Sheeba Nabiryo, and Emily Lindtveit, along with Lydia Robert, Duncan Cowie, Emmanuel Wahpo, Sowndaryan Jayaprakashanand, Rena-Jae McFall and Declan Reidy. Levenson, Johnson, Lindtveit, Reidy, and Nabiryo competed as attorneys, and Orr, McFall, Robert, Cowie, Wahpo, and Jayaprakashanand performed as witnesses. Sasha Orr and Rena-Jae McFall achieved individual awards as well. Both obtained “Outstanding Witness” recognition for their contributions to the trial. McFall has clinched the honor once already this season, and in response to her victory, she stated, “I am very excited. This was a huge competition, so it means a lot that my hard work was recognized.” McFall then complimented fellow winner Orr, who was acknowledged for the first time: “Sasha is excellent at what she does, [Orr] has a tough job, and she always does fantastic.” Levenson added to McFall’s compliments, stating, “I’m excited for Sasha’s future. Her performances are getting more dramatic—more real. Each time she takes the stand, the judges love her.” 

Levenson’s A-team made history by being one of two UMass Lowell Mock Trial teams to win first in any competition. Second only to 2017’s team, led by president Thomas Wood, which returned undefeated from the Quinnipiac Invitational in Connecticut. Aside from the historic accomplishment, Sheeba Nabiryo felt the competition had a deeper meaning: “I remember being at the award ceremony…looking around that room, it seemed like a lot of the other schools were shocked when we got first place. However, when a public state school like ours beats private schools, I think it sends an important message that the quality of a team is defined only by the work put in, not by a school’s prestige.”  She continued, “We don’t have as much money as some other schools do…however, the content of our cases, the talent of our attorneys and witnesses, and the hard work we put in shine through regardless.” 

Despite the early victory, Mock Trial’s season has barely begun. With a club full of prospective law students, the team’s eagerness and work ethic are not bound to break. Vice-President Emily Johnson, who plans to apply to law school next month, credits the organization for her improvement in public speaking. Johnson says, “I have truly gained a significant amount of confidence in public speaking these past four years, and I have to give credit to Mock Trial.” Emily Lindtveit, who competes as an attorney, also credits the team for refining her abilities, saying, “I have recognized where I am the most confident in public speaking, and [mock trial] has taught me to think faster on my feet.” Looking ahead, the A-team is gearing up for Regionals, which is set to take place this upcoming spring semester. At Regionals, UMass Lowell will fight for a spot in the National Championship in Cleveland, Ohio.