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<\/a>LaRosa and Mamillapalli are among five teams of two that UConn sent to the Eastern Regional qualifying competition in November in Fitchburg, Mass. In addition to his place at nationals, LaRosa earned a \u201cTop Orator\u201d honor, which was awarded to the top 10 debaters. He placed fourth out of the 124 competitors.<\/p>\n
Each year, the mock appellate court case alternates between civil and criminal. This year\u2019s Moot Court issue was abortion. The topics selected are intended to pique students\u2019 interest. During the tournament, each member of the two-person team has 10 minutes to present his or her argument, debating different precedents of existing case law related to the issue.<\/p>\n
The UConn Moot Court team practiced weekly during the semester, and almost daily in the days leading up to the competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoot Court is a lot of work, but its benefits extend well-beyond the competitions,\u201d says LaRosa. \u201cI’ve been able to apply the skills I’ve learned to other courses and projects, including those not legally oriented. Moot Court helps me, and I think all of us on the team, think more critically about how we construct arguments on any topic.\u201c<\/p>\n
Moot Court teaches legal reasoning, but it also stresses critical analysis, public speaking, and flexibility. — Edward Kammerer Jr.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
LaRosa, who comes from Vermont, is a double major in urban and community studies and geography, and is also a member of the master\u2019s in public administration fast-track program. In addition to competing with the UConn Moot Court team, LaRosa works at the UConn Writing Center, has an internship with the Connecticut State Data Center, and is engaged in research regarding urban neighborhood development in Hartford. He was also a 2013 Holster Scholar<\/a> and was recently named a member of the competitive Leadership Legacy Experience <\/a>program. His career goals include working in regional planning with an emphasis in land use law and policy.<\/p>\n
Mamillapalli is a Connecticut resident who is majoring in management information systems and philosophy. She is a resident assistant, a mentor with the Peer Allies Through Honors<\/a> student group, and secretary for UConn Change Lives<\/a>,<\/em> which raises money for children in Bangladesh, Nepal, and India. She has earned various scholarships, held several internships, including some in the legal field, and speaks multiple languages. She plans to attend law school after completing her undergraduate degree.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat first interested me about Moot Court was the opportunity to develop my public speaking skills while focusing on constitutional issues,\u201d she says. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing quite like getting up in front of a panel of real judges and attorneys, and having them interrupt and question the argument you\u2019ve developed for months. It’s definitely a challenge and a thrill that has advanced my critical thinking skills.\u201d<\/p>\n
The UConn Moot Court team, a student organization partially funded by USG, is open to all undergraduate students. The team hopes to send several students to the national tournament event in Miami to support LaRosa and Mamillapalli, and continue the lessons learned from the Moot Court experience.<\/p>\n