The first Mock Trial Invitational ever held at UB will take place this week, bringing 13 universities to square off in a simulated courtroom.
This two-day event starts Wednesday in the Student Union and was organized by the Law School and UB Mock Trial.
UB's team hopes the event will gain exposure for the university.
" I would say what is important about our invitational is not about our ability to perform, but it really is a great opportunity to expose our law school program to the UB community," Invitational Coordinator and Mock Trial team member Vanessa Graf said. "We have the opportunity to make headlines at this event and gain awards."
The event will bring 13 universities from around the country together to compete in a mock trial, including Case Western University, Bowling Green University, Kenyon College, Hamilton College and Syracuse University.
Each year the Mock Trial teams are faced with an invented civil or criminal case. This year, the teams will face off against one another to win the Tony Kissner vs. The Polk Hospital case.
The criminal case is about an individual that sued Polk Hospital for releasing a mental patient before his time, causing the patient to attack Kissner and attempt a successful suicide.
UB Mock Trial team members said the trial needs a large amount of support from the law community in Buffalo to make the event a success.
David Spira, president of UB Mock Trial, said if UB does not bring in a significant number of volunteer judges or lawyers to the Mock Trial, the invitational would cease to exist.
"We are in dire need of more volunteers, especially judges," Spira, a junior communications major, said. "We need approximately 25 judges per round and the numbers are growing everyday, so I am hopeful that we will have enough participating members of the community involved in time."
Preparations for the invitational also include additional fundraising projects. Spira said UB Mock Trial will sell shirts and sweatshirts at the invitational, which will feature an inspirational picture of Niagara Falls and a scale of justice.
Club member Dan Nickolai, a senior sociology and legal studies major, said this year he believes the team will bring the gold home.
"I am really confident with the team and I am confident in myself," said Nickolai, "We already had a huge growth and between the invitational this November and the eight-hour rehearsal we put in a week, I don't see how we are not going to nationals."
