UPLIFT Legal Institute for Teens Holds Mock Trials at the University of Minnesota Law School

This week, the students of UPLIFT Legal Institute for Teens—diverse groups of eighth graders from Columbia Academy and St. Louis Park Middle School—presented criminal mock trials before Minnesota judges at the University of Minnesota Law School. It was the culmination of a six-month program in which students were trained by volunteer coaches, including law students and attorneys from Maslon and the broader legal community.

Launched by Maslon in September 2017, UPLIFT is a legal diversity pipeline nonprofit serving middle school students reflecting the rich diversity of the Twin Cities. The afterschool mock trial program is taught by volunteer attorneys and law students who meet with participating middle school students throughout the academic year, instructing them on the legal profession, the court system, and key criminal law and practice concepts. Participation in the program helps students build confidence, develop analytical and speaking skills, foster long term vision, and create a framework to pursue academic excellence in high school.

As of this week, more than 150 middle school students have completed the UPLIFT program.

This year, UPLIFT participants were assigned to teams representing either the prosecution or defense in the fictional first-degree murder case of State of Minnesota v. Coco "Pibb" St. Clair. To lend authenticity to the experience, students presented their trials before sitting Minnesota judges, including Hennepin County District Judge Luis Bartolomei, Minnesota Senior Judge Mary Vasaly, Dakota County District Judge Martin Fallon, and Ramsey County District Judge JaPaul Harris.

Together with volunteer law students and lawyers from throughout the Twin Cities, Maslon attorneys Nate Ajouri, Anna Barton, Clayton Carlson, John Duffey, Carly Johnson, Evan Nelson, Terry Newby, Gabe Ramirez-Hernandez, Amy Swedberg, Julian Zebot, as well as future Maslon associates Yemaya Hanna and Abbie Maier and firm alumni Cooper Ashley and Laura Walvoord, served as volunteer coaches.

"The UPLIFT mock trials serve as an opportunity for students to explore their own voices as advocates, and it is exciting to see their transformation throughout the year," said Catherine Ahlin-Halverson, executive director of UPLIFT. "The connection that develops between UPLIFT volunteer lawyers and the students they mentor is meaningful and often continues beyond our program. It is deeply gratifying to see students start to talk with their coaches about not only their trial strategy today, but their plans for high school, college, and even law school."

Catherine is a former Maslon partner who serves as the executive director of UPLIFT and in the role of public interest counsel at Maslon, serving as a mentor and leader across the firm's pro bono efforts overall.