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Legal aid summer associates get trial practice in real courtroom
ASHLEY C. HEENEY
Legal News Reporter
Published: August 17, 2011
Summer associates at Community Legal Aid Services Inc. who just wrapped up their internships got to experience something unique–a practice run in the courtroom.
Part of the nine associates’ 10-week program featured a trial skills practicum, this year in an actual courtroom.
Legal Aid Attorney Meredith Lobritz Watts said previously the associates used a conference room at Legal Aid’s Akron office for trial practice. This year they utilized Summit County Court of Pleas Domestic Relations courtroom where they heard from Judge John P. Quinn about professionalism and what a judge looks for during a trial.
Legal Aid attorneys and volunteers, as well as volunteers from Sterling Jewelers Inc. of Akron, AmeriCorps and Mature Services played the roles of clients, witnesses and court staff.
Intern Kaley Smitley, who just finished her first year at The University of Akron School of Law, said the most interesting part of the program was the hands-on, practical experience component.
“Law school and some internships consist mostly of research and writing,” she said. “It's rare to have the actual opportunity to participate in hearings, trials, client meetings, etc.”
The trial practicum, called “The Truth Is Out There,” included three hearings for juvenile custody, eviction and criminal cases arising from a fictionalized incident with a notorious crime family, a celebrity psychiatrist and F.B.I. “X-Files” agents.
Legal Aid doesn’t actually handle criminal cases, but it was thrown into the practicum mix for fun.
Scenarios were based on the X-Files and Sopranos television shows and the movie My Cousin Vinny, Legal Aid Litigation Director Christina Janice said. “They are working with familiar characters so they would have preconceived notions of what the character would do.”
The experience of being in a real courtroom also lent a hand to a real-life trial.
In this comical way, Janice said the law students get a better idea of what lawyers do.
“We give them exhibits they’re not expecting, which is very real world. It’s a great exercise.”
Smitley, unlike many law students, had previous mock trial experience in college at University of Mount Union and as a high school student at Hoover High in Canton and wants to work as a court advocate for victims of domestic violence, supporting and preparing clients for hearings.
“The most important thing I learned from the practicum was how unpredictable trials can be,” Smitley said. “You never know what a witness will say, how a judge will rule or what information will be uncovered. It's important to stay alert, think on your feet, and always be prepared for any situation.”