Chicago-Kent Trial Advocacy Team

07/25/2022

Sending good vibes and well wishes to all of our Trial Team alumni taking the bar on Tuesday and Wednesday this week! We know you'll do great, and your team is rooting for you!

07/01/2022

Last night, our team celebrated all of the program’s accomplishments over the last few years with our first alumni dinner since the start of the pandemic! Normally an annual tradition, the team, coaches, and alums all got together for a night of food, festivities, and awards. Congratulations to all the award recipients, and thanks to the IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law Alumni Association for hosting this amazing event!

06/11/2022

✨MEET THE ROOKIES✨

Today, meet rising 2L Paige Bareck! Paige is from Hinsdale, IL, and attended University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she earned her BA in Psychology.

A few fun facts about Paige…

If Paige was an animal, she would be a dolphin because she loves the beach and thinks they’re adorable!

If Paige wasn’t going to become a lawyer, she would be a broadcaster! Specifically a sports broadcaster because she really enjoys watching sports.

Her favorite pretrial pump-up jam? A Lot by 21 Savage!

Paige is scared of heights but was convinced to go skydiving!! She was happy she did it, but won’t ever do it again!!

Welcome to the team, Paige! So happy to have you!!! 🎉🎊

06/09/2022

✨MEET THE ROOKIES✨

Today, meet rising 3L Lauren Siedlecki!

Lauren is from Belvedere, IL, and attended University of Illinois at Chicago, where she earned her BA in Political Science.

Some fun facts about Lauren…

If Lauren was an animal, she’d be a panda bear, because who doesn’t love a panda bear?

If Lauren wasn’t going to become an attorney, she’d either be a high school history teacher or a flight attendant.

Her favorite pretrial pump-up jam? “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from Mulan!

Lauren also loves to cook.

Welcome to the team, Lauren! We’re so excited to have you in our family!!! 🎉🎊

06/03/2022

Good luck to our advocates this weekend!

is underway! Good luck to all the competitors who will go head-to-head over the next three days until only ONE Top Gun emerges. .

A very special thank you to MG+M The Law Firm for their generous sponsorship of this year's competition!

American University Washington College of Law; Campbell University School of Law; Chicago-Kent College of Law; Drexel University Kline School of Law; Fordham Law; LMU Loyola Law School; Quinnipiac University School of Law; Cumberland School of Law; Stetson University College of Law; South Texas College of Law Houston; UCLA School of Law; UC Berkeley School of Law; University of Denver Sturm College of Law; University of Georgia School of Law; University of South Carolina School of Law

06/01/2022

It may be Top Gun season in theaters… but it’s Top Gun season for the trial advocacy world too!

This year, Chicago-Kent returns as the reigning champions to Waco, Texas! Our first chair/Maverick this year is none other than rising 3L Cole Gunter!!

Cole, a Wichita, Kansas native, is a rising 3L at Chicago-Kent College of Law. Prior to coming to law school, Cole competed with the University of Illinois at Chicago Mock Trial Team. While at UIC, he was a Regional Best Advocate and ORCS Best Advocate.

Cole continued with trial advocacy at the law school level. In 2021, he was named the #1 Advocate at Drexel's Battle of the Experts, and was a Finalist at the National Civil Trial Competition hosted by Loyola Marymount. In 2022, he competed at the Region 9 NTC and National Trial Competition, breaking into the national quarterfinals. After law school, Cole intends to pursue a career in criminal litigation in Chicago.

Cole is joined by his second chair, recent Chicago-Kent graduate, Zoë Green Appler. Zoë took home the title of Top Gun XII last year, and is excited to assist Cole through the process this year!

Preliminary rounds will be held Friday and Saturday, with the semifinal and final rounds taking place Sunday. Send our advocates the best of luck as they compete in the hardest mock trial competition in the country! ✈️🏆

05/31/2022

✨ MEET THE ROOKIES ✨

Today, meet rising 2L Jack DeBacker! Jack hails from Ypsilanti, MI. He attended Loyola University Chicago, where he graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy, and a B.A. in Political Science.

Some fun facts about Jack…

If Jack was an animal, he’d be a bunny! They’re undeniably adorable and have been his favorite animal forever 🐰

If he wasn’t going to be a lawyer, he would be a high school gym teacher! “Those that can’t do, teach, and those that can’t teach, teach gym.” -School of Rock

His favorite pretrial pump-up jam is Twinz by Big Pun, Fat Joe.

Jack has a photographic memory which is exclusively limited to song lyrics!

Welcome to the family, Jack!!! We can’t wait to see all the amazing things you’ll do! 🎉🎊

05/30/2022

✨ MEET THE ROOKIES ✨

We’re starting off this week with rising 2L Alexis Endres! Alexis is from Lombard, IL. She attended North Central College, where she earned a B.A. in both Sociology (Criminal Justice) and Psychology.

Some fun facts about Alexis…

If Alexis was an animal, she’d be a ringtail dove, because like this silly bird, she loves a good laugh! 🐦

If Alexis wasn’t going to become a lawyer, she’d be a chef, because cooking for her family and friends makes her happy.

Her favorite pretrial pump-up jam is “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” by Shania Twain!

Alexis has also ridden in a hot air balloon.

Welcome to the team!!! We’re so excited to have you, Alexis!!!! 🍾🎉

05/27/2022

✨ MEET THE ROOKIES ✨

Today, meet rising 2L Diayan Rajamohan! Diayan is from Toronto, Canada. He attended Lake Forest College where he majored in Sociology and Anthropology.

Some fun facts about Diayan…

If Diayan was an animal, he would be an elephant because there is something beautiful about simultaneously possessing a large presence, yet being kind and gentle, that he hopes to master in his own personality 🐘

If he wasn’t going to become a lawyer, he would be a full-time abstract artist. He would travel the world to find inspiration for his abstract paintings, and build a studio/gallery space for the youth in his community to find way to connect with themselves through painting and art.

His favorite pretrial pump-up jam is Megatron by Nicki Minaj!

Diayan doesn’t like when other people do his dishes! Fun for him (because he loves cleaning) and fun for you (because you don’t have to clean… when you eat at his place)!

Welcome to the team, Diayan!!! We can’t see all the amazing things you’ll do ❤️🍾🎉

05/26/2022

✨ MEET THE ROOKIES ✨

Today, meet rising 2L Jenny Jung! Jenny is from Toledo, OH, and attended The Ohio State University, where she got her degree in Business Administration and Marketing.

Some fun facts about Jenny…

If Jenny was an animal, she’d be a Korean tiger! Although they're now extinct, they are still recognized as the national animal of Korea and are thought to be strong and powerful. Many Korean folklore features a tiger and the stories always resonated with her. It also helps that she is South-Korean! 🐯

If she wasn’t going to become a lawyer, Jenny would be a chef! She loves cooking, and traveling to learn how to make different recipes sounds like a dream!

Her favorite pretrial pump-up jam is Fergalicious!

Jenny also recently got engaged to her high school sweetheart!!! ❤️

We are so lucky to have Jenny on the team, and can’t wait to see her succeed this year! 🎉🎊

05/25/2022

✨MEET THE ROOKIES✨

Today, meet rising 2L Claire Bullington! Claire is from Mundelein, IL, and received her B.A. in Psychology from Wheaton College.

Some fun facts about Claire…

If Claire was an animal, she’d be her dog, Barkley, because he is the sweetest little angel & he gets to nap all day! 🐶

If Claire wasn’t going to become a lawyer, she’d be an astronaut!

Her favorite pretrial pump-up jam is “Idols” by Virtual Riot.

Claire’s favorite dessert is cotton candy!

We are so glad Claire is part of the Trial Team family, and can’t wait to see what she accomplishes this next season!!! 🎉🎊

05/24/2022

✨ MEET THE ROOKIES ✨

Today, get to know rising 2L Caroline Woodmancy!

Caroline is from Morton, IL, and attended Loyola University Chicago, where she earned her B.A. in Political Science!

A few fun facts about Caroline…

If Caroline was an animal, she would be a cat because she loves a good nap! 🐱

If Caroline wasn’t going to become a lawyer, she would run for office.

Her favorite pretrial pump-up jam is “I am not a woman, I’m a god” by Halsey!

A fun fact about Caroline: she has six nieces and nephews!

Welcome to the team, Caroline!! We’re so excited to see all the amazing things you do! 🎉🎊