Akron Law trial team to compete in elite Top Gun mock trial invitational

05/31/2019

Look out, Maverick! The University of Akron School of Law trial team is headed to Waco, Texas – for the third consecutive year – to compete in the prestigious Top Gun National Mock Trial Competition at Baylor University, June 5-9.

Top Gun “is an innovative, invitation-only mock trial tournament where the single best advocates from the 16 top trial advocacy schools across the nation … go head-to-head for the honor of being designated as ‘Top Gun,’” according to Baylor Law’s website. The winner of the competition will take home $10,000.

Imokhai Okolo and Cassandra Rosa from Akron Law

Imokhai Okolo and Cassandra Rosa will represent Akron Law at prestigious Top Gun National Mock Trial Competition at Baylor University, June 5-9.

Rising third-year student Imokhai Okolo will represent Akron Law as the solo advocate. He and his trial team partner, Cassandra Rosa (also a rising third-year), competed in two major national competitions this past season – the National Board of Trial Advocacy Tournament of Champions and the American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition – “proving they belong among the best of the best by advancing to the national finals both times,” said the team’s coach, Kevin Kita (’11). Rosa was Akron Law’s Top Gun participant last year, Kita noted.

Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC is the exclusive sponsor of the team.

“This tournament gives Akron Law and its trial team another chance to excel on a national stage,” said John F. Hill, Litigation Practice Group Leader at Buckingham. “The school’s trial skills programs bring unique value to its students and the law firms who recruit and hire from Akron Law. We’re excited and proud for the trial team and wish them good luck.”

Top Gun, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, is renowned for its challenging conditions and realism.

According to the Top Gun website, “participants do not receive the case file until they arrive in Waco, a mere 24 hours before the first round of trials begins. Preparation includes reviewing depositions, records, and photographs, and making a site visit to view the scene where the events occurred. Shortly before each round, competitors are assigned the witnesses who may be used at their discretion during the round.” Adding to the realism, the competition enlists distinguished judges, trial lawyers and experts – including actual forensic investigators, university professors and others – to serve as judges, jurors and witnesses.

“We thank Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs for their support of the team, and we wish all the best to Imokhai and Cassandra,” said Akron Law Dean Christopher J. (C.J.) Peters.

Here is the full list of competing schools:

  • American University Washington College of Law 
  • Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law
  • Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law
  • Fordham University School of Law
  • Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law
  • Samford University Cumberland School of Law
  • Stetson University College of Law
  • Syracuse University College of Law
  • Temple University Beasley School of Law
  • UCLA School of Law
  • University of Akron School of Law
  • University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
  • University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
  • University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
  • Wake Forest University School of Law

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