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Facing off against teams from top institutions at Notre Dame’s Law and Business Schools, the Foresters delivered impressive performances, winning several rounds throughout the two-day competition.

This marks a milestone year for the program, which sent two full teams for the first time, demonstrating the increasing momentum and enthusiasm for mock trial at the College. Team captains and attorneys Kate Kiameh ’25, Daniel Leuchtenberger ’26, Thomas Carberry ’26, and Sofia Reese ’27 led the charge, with a talented roster of attorneys and witnesses contributing to the teams’ success:

• Attorneys: Rifah Raida ’28, Ebtsam Abdelghani ’26, Mila Uram ’27, Zofia Czarnik ’25, Adriana Voloshchuk ’27, Liam Thumser ’27, Nathaniel Henry ’26, Kyra Koch ’27

• Witnesses: Medhaansh Ghosh ’28, Marnie Glass ’26, Nolen Heinrichs ’28, Shellane Shettleworth ’26, Jack Osborn ’25, Sadie Pimlott ’27, Emma Smith ’26, Kaitlyn DeMello ’26, Elise Kuiper ’26

Program crosses disciplines

For the first time, students were able to take mock trial for course credit, further integrating legal practice into the academic experience. The competition drew students from a diverse range of disciplines, including legal studies, politics, computer science, data science, psychology, neuroscience, history, and communication.

“We are seeing incredible growth in our program, both in participation and in performance,” said Stephanie Caparelli, Assistant Professor of Politics, Chair of Legal Studies, and Pre-Law Advisor. “The students brought impressive dedication and skill to this competition, and I am excited to see where we go from here.”

With the continued growth of Lake Forest College’s mock trial program, the Foresters are proving themselves as a formidable presence in the courtroom. 

“We are seeing incredible growth in our program, both in participation and in performance.”

“I am incredibly proud of everyone on this team. We have less resources and experience than almost every team we competed against, but we held our own through hard work and preparation. This also is largely attributable to our coach, Professor Caparelli, who makes this whole thing possible,” Leuchtenberger said.

As the Lake Forest mock trial program expands, students will continue to develop invaluable skills for future legal careers and beyond.

“I take great pride in the effort and dedication each of us put in to ensure our teams performed at a level that will allow us to look back with pride,” Kiameh said. “I am excited to follow the continued success of the team in the years ahead.”

Founded in 1985, the American Mock Trial Association serves as the governing body for intercollegiate mock trial competition, according to its website. Through trial simulations, students develop critical thinking, legal reasoning, and public speaking skills. AMTA hosts 32 regional tournaments, eight opening-round championship tournaments, and a national championship each year, involving over 400 colleges and universities nationwide.