FIU Law Trial Team Member and Trial Advocacy Program Community Outreach Fellow Sahara Fonseca Prepares High Schoolers for Overtown Youth Center Mock Trial Competition

Sahara Fonseca, rising 3L, member of the FIU Law Trial Team, and the Trial Advocacy Program’s inaugural Community Outreach Student Fellow, spent this summer coaching a group of 8^th and 9^th graders from Booker T. Washington High School for the 2018 Overtown Youth Center (“OYC”) Mock Trial Competition. Sponsored by United States District Court Senior Judge Paul C. Huck, this annual program is held in conjunction with the youth center and culminates in a mock trial at the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr., Federal Courthouse in downtown Miami. Over the summer, Ms. Fonseca held weekly training sessions with her students, teaching them the fundamentals of trial advocacy, including developing case theory and theme, direct and cross examination, opening statement, closing argument, and the rules of evidence. “Working as a coach for the OYC competition was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in law school,” Sahara reflected.  “I was proud to see my students, who had shy beginnings, grow into powerful advocates at our final trial.  Programs like this,” she continued, “help our youth develop leadership skills and build the self-confidence they need to become the professionals they want.” FIU Trial Lawyers-in-Residence selected to serve as Trial Advocacy Program Fellows are on- and off-campus student leaders who dedicate themselves to building a better world through advocacy. The Trial Ad Program is headed by Founding Director Professor H.T. Smith, along with Professor H. Scott Fingerhut, who serves as Assistant Director.  Contact the Program at law.fiu.edu/trial-advocacy and 305-348-8095.