A high school mock trial team tutored by attorney Scott B. Cohen of Engelman Berger, PC has captured its first regional championship. The BASIS Chandler team earned the top spot in its region at the Maricopa County High School Mock Trial Regional Tournament on March 7 and will now advance to the state finals later this month.
Cohen has volunteered his time mentoring BASIS Chandler’s mock trial students for over a decade. Under his guidance, the program has grown in both participation and achievement.
“This is an incredible accomplishment for these students,” Cohen said. “They put in countless hours learning courtroom procedure, building arguments, and practicing as a team. Watching them rise to the challenge and earn this win has been tremendously rewarding.”
Mock trial competitions allow students to experience the legal process firsthand, taking on the roles of attorneys, witnesses, and courtroom staff as they present cases before volunteer judges and attorneys. The competitions emphasize critical thinking, public speaking, teamwork, and an understanding of the judicial system.
The BASIS Chandler program has seen notable success in recent years, and in 2022, a BASIS Chandler student earned the Courtroom Artist National Champion award at the National High School Mock Trial Championship. With their regional win secured, the team now turns its focus to the state competition to take place on March 28 at the Sandra Day O’Connor U.S. Courthouse in Phoenix.
“If their preparation and dedication are any indication,” Cohen added, “they’ll represent their school and community exceptionally well at state.”
Engelman Berger is comprised of experienced lawyers who are well recognized for their expertise and commitment to resolve commercial disputes and assist clients in preventing legal problems through proper planning. The firms’ clients include national and local lenders, borrowers, lessors, tenants, family-owned businesses, developers, franchise owners, municipalities, and investors. Industries served include banking and lending, credit unions, real estate, construction, restaurant, hospitality, medical, retail, wholesale, and agricultural, among others. The firm provides creative and focused representation in all federal and state courts, bankruptcy court, arbitrations, mediations and settlement negotiations.