Jasmine Cooper

Jasmine Cooper
Mock Trial Lead Attorney

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The Interview

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Define Mock Trial Attorney?
A mock trial attorney is a student lawyer who presents their argument on a mock case in competition. This is done with two other lawyers and 3 witnesses from their team.

Where do you draw your inspiration?
I draw my inspiration from just my desire to practice law. In the 7th grade I joined the debate team and I realized that I was good at crafting an argument. I also noticed that I liked the challenge of learning how present and speak under pressure. From a very young age I have always liked to help people. My success in debate helped me realize that becoming a lawyer more specifically a district or state prosecutor would give me the avenue to make a difference in people's lives.

Why is what you do important?
Mock Trial is important because I feel like it develops such a well rounded person. It forces you to get out of your comfort zone, think on your feet and work closely with others. Mock Trial teaches you how to be a team player. Everyone on the team is critical to the team's success. On a personal level Mock Trial is important to me because it gives me a taste of what practicing law will feel like. Mock Trial serves as great training and helps me to get closer and closer to my end goal.

What do you think is the most important tool for a Mock Trial Attorney?
I think the most important tool for a Mock Trial attorney is patience. Some might argue that confidence is the most important but to me patience is the only way you can get through a trial successfully. In Mock Trial there are many moments where things are not going as you planned. You have to be patience have the ability to stop, calm down and quickly decide how to fix the problem. Without patience you are likely to give up or stop giving it your all; something that hurts the team in the long run.

What advice do you have for someone that wants to be a Mock Trial Attorney?
The advice that I have to someone that wants to be a Mock Trial attorney is to just work hard and be yourself. I know that might sound cliche but it really is true. Mock trial requires a lot of commitment and practice. Last year I practiced my opening statements at least 5 times a day. If you don’t put in time and preparation it will reflect during trial. You also should be yourself. A lot of the times other students try to act overly confident or try to change who they actually are just to gain points in a trial. But from my experience your own personality makes you unique and in some ways make you really stand out. As long as you prepare, stay true to yourself, and act in a respectful manner to everyone during a trial I believe you can be very successful as a Mock Trial attorney.

What is an interesting fact about you?
An interesting fact about me is that I have been a girl scout for 10 years and I have been playing the flute for 8 years.

Where are you from / Where do you live?
I’m from Maryland and I live in Bowie.

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
5 years from now I see myself in my senior year of college. I hope to be finishing up my degree in US history, taking the LSAT and applying to some of the top law schools in the nation.