The WSU mock trial team traveled to Yakima for a two-day event, giving them a chance to network with WSU alumni working in the legal field.

Twenty-two WSU students attended this event in November, according to an article by WSU Insider.

The mock trial participants trialed a civil case in an actual courtroom against each other, said Sydney Buchheister, mock trial team student president.

The fictional case was about an animal trainer and chimpanzee that was supposed to be brought on to a late night talk show. During the rehearsal, the chimpanzee had a negative reaction and killed one of the writers on set, Buchheister said.

“It’s a liability case over who is at fault for the attack,” she said, “whether it was the animal trainer who trained them poorly or television studio for not providing a safe environment.”

Buchheister said the event was organized and funded by WSU alumnus Judge Rossmeissl and the alumni network.

“This is the first time we’ve ever done anything like this,” Buchheister said. “This experience was really different from an American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) event. Regionals are about trialing the case and being in an actual competition. Yakima was more about networking, not just being in the courtroom but seeing the back scenes of the legal field.”

Isaac Castaneda, WSU senior and mock trial participant, said it was a good connection-building experience for him.

“We were able to get contact information, learn a little about their background, what they do and why they wanted to go to law school,” Castaneda said.

Buchheister said for those interested in being in the legal field someday, being a part of the mock trial class or club could give them a leg up.

“Beyond [basic legal skills], you learn a lot of soft skills,” she said. “It’s a lot of public speaking, problem solving skills, skills you have to do in the real world.”

Castaneda said he gained more experience being a part of the mock trial team.

“I think it makes me more knowledgeable. I learn how to be an attorney: how to act as an attorney and how to be in a courtroom,” Castaneda said. “I want to be an attorney myself so it motivates me more to actually want to go to law school.”