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The 100-degree heat in San Antonio won't stop St. Mary's University coach AJ Bellido de Luna from drilling his team on the fundamentals. “We’re going to be the largest populated school for Latino law students.  These students are here to make a difference,” he says.   And for coach Laura Rose at the University of South Dakota, being midwest nice has no place in a mock trial tournament.  She lays down the law; “You guys are engaged in a highly competitive law school sport.”

Learn more about the schools, programs and special guests:

St. Mary's University Law School 

University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law

Preet Bharara

Trial Team Central

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Visit our show page for transcripts and more details about the series at ClassActionPod.com

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It's boot camp graduation day at St. Mary's and the nervous 2L’s must pass one final test before they can make the team: Cross-examine their coach in an actual courtroom. AJ is a former Marine. One by one they march down Mosquito Alley in their suits. AJ is ready. “Some who you thought were going to do great are gonna fall flat on their face. Some who struggled had a light bulb go off last night and are going to do fantastic. Everyone else is going to be in the middle.”  Tears will be shed.

Learn more about the schools, programs and special guests:

St. Mary's University Law School 

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Visit our show page for transcripts and more details about the series at ClassActionPod.com

Follow host Katie Phang on Twitter @KatiePhang and Instagram @KatiePhang.

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“Never rat on your friends, and always keep your mouth shut.” The first big tournament of the season is a murder case based on the plot of Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. The teams are practicing saying “consigliere” and figuring out what the difference is between a “capo” and a “soldier.”  In between we get a lesson on South Dakota geography (cowboy hats out west), and take a trip to H.E.B. (el Heb) for triple shot espressos.

Learn more about the schools, programs and special guests:

St. Mary's University Law School 

University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law

Elie Honig 

Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law 

Up Against the Mob with Elie Honig 

Follow us on Twitter @ClassActionPod and Instagram @ClassActionPod

Visit our show page for transcripts and more details about the series at ClassActionPod.com

Follow host Katie Phang on Twitter @KatiePhang and Instagram @KatiePhang.

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Dawn breaks for the “Battle of the Experts.”  In San Antonio, St. Mary’s team rookie Mariela Encinas prays for success at the Red Mass, the 13th-century Catholic ceremony that traditionally offers a blessing to the legal community for the upcoming court year.  In South Dakota, the team gets stoked up on pasta and smoothies. Coach Rose makes it simple for her team, telling them “Blood makes the grass grow."  Then, the judges call the trials to order, and it is on.

Learn more about the schools, programs and special guests:

St. Mary's University Law School 

University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law

Elie Honig 

Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law 

Up Against the Mob with Elie Honig 

Follow us on Twitter @ClassActionPod and Instagram @ClassActionPod

Visit our show page for transcripts and more details about the series at ClassActionPod.com

Follow host Katie Phang on Twitter @KatiePhang and Instagram @KatiePhang.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The undergraduate trial season at Dillard University gets off to a disastrous start as Hurricane Ida lays waste to the campus, forcing students into hotels for safety.  Coach Adria Kimbrough must quickly re-assemble her team and get them prepped for its first competition at Ole Miss., where generations ago, Black students were denied entry.  Times change and the Dillard team rallies, but some victories are bittersweet.

Learn more about the schools, programs and special guests:

Dillard University Pre-Law Program

American Mock Trial Association 

Follow us on Twitter @ClassActionPod and Instagram @ClassActionPod

Visit our show page for transcripts and more details about the series at ClassActionPod.com

Follow host Katie Phang on Twitter @KatiePhang and Instagram @KatiePhang.

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Anjani Shah and Ellie Sands lead an all-female team from Brooklyn Law against an all-male team from Harvard University at the annual MLK National Civil Rights Competition.  It’s an epic battle for an important cause.  Anjani's immigrant parents watch the trial online, and her dad teaches us how to make a proper cup of chai.  Back on campus, Ellie appeals to President Biden for clemency on behalf of her endangered client.

Learn more about the schools, programs and special guests:

Brooklyn Law School 

UC Davis School of Law

Fordham University School of Law 

Brooklyn Defender Services 

Follow us on Twitter @ClassActionPod and Instagram @ClassActionPod

Visit our show page for transcripts and more details about the series at ClassActionPod.com

Follow host Katie Phang on Twitter @KatiePhang and Instagram @KatiePhang.

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A spate of recent Supreme Court decisions are eroding the civil rights of all Americans, especially women.  Katie Phang checks in with the Brooklyn team to gauge their reactions to the overturning of Roe v Wade and other decisions.  Listen to how these future lawyers plan to fight and protect our rights. 

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