As a 3L with a position at a law firm already lined up after graduation, Joseph Colarian has achieved quite a lot during his time at USC Gould School of Law. The 2024 Hale Moot Court winner added to his list of accomplishments recently as he was named Best Overall Advocate at the 7th annual MLK National Civil Rights Trial Competition. Colarian sat down with USC Gould to discuss his experience in the MLK Trial Competition as well as to share advice for fellow law students.
What was it like to compete in the MLK National Civil Rights Trial Competition?
It was a pleasure to participate in the competition! It was an exciting opportunity to conduct a mock trial on a federal civil rights issue, namely, alleged discrimination at a place of public accommodation. We competed in a federal courthouse in Sacramento, and we were evaluated by judges, attorneys and professors. My teammates and I finished as semi-finalists, and I was honored to receive the Best Overall Advocate Award. This marks my seventh year of participating in competitive mock trials. I started in my freshman year as an undergraduate, and it’s a privilege to now represent USC in the same activity. I want to thank my teammates, 3Ls Nealie Alavie, Alina Wan and Matthew Wu; our coaches, Rohan Garg (JD 2023) and Simrin Makhijani, as well as the tournament hosts, UC Davis School of Law.
How do you think your time competing in the 2024 Hale Moot Court helped prepare you for the MLK National Civil Rights Trial Competition?
My participation in Hale Moot Court certainly helped keep my oral presentation skills sharp. Appellate advocacy is significantly different from trial advocacy, but there are core principles that apply to both. Judges and juries are very different, but both of them respond well to simple, clear, honest explanations of complex facts and laws. They also appreciate authenticity. Advocates should be zealous and inspire confidence in their positions, but they shouldn’t try to imitate lawyers they might have seen on TV or in movies. My time in Hale Moot Court and the Gould Trial Team has prompted me to ask myself, “When I speak, how can I seem less like a lawyer, and more like an average person?” It may seem counterintuitive, but it seems to keep me on the right track.
As someone who has experience in law competitions, is there any advice you would like to give to others interested in participating?
Generally, I would tell them to try it out! There’s no substitute for experience. They can do so by joining us on the Gould Trial Team. It’s a phenomenal way to improve their public speaking, learn trial strategy and procedure, and make deep friendships in law school. It’s incredibly rewarding whether you’re interested in litigation or transactional work. We hold a 1L Closing Argument Competition in the spring semester and hold tryouts for 2Ls and 3Ls every fall. Previous experience is welcome but is not required.
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