Attorneys Alaina Tolbert, Isaac Westling and Andrew Firkins from the Knoxville office of Spicer Rudstrom demonstrated their commitment to community service by volunteering at the High School Mock Trial District Competition held from February 16th to 18th.
The competition, which welcomed participants from 22 counties in East Tennessee, was hosted by the Knoxville Bar Association’s Barristers, the Young Lawyer’s Division of the Knoxville Bar. Isaac Westling, serving as one of the Mock Trial Committee Co-Chairs, remarked, “We hosted one hundred fifty competitors representing fourteen teams from Tennessee Districts 2, 3, and 4. The competition is not only about legal expertise; it’s about fostering the critical thinking and public speaking skills of the students. I am always amazed at the students’ level of skill when watching them examine witnesses and introduce evidence. Their knowledge of the rules of evidence is impressive.”
During the event, Andrew Firkins and Alaina Tolbert generously volunteered as scoring judges, evaluating the performances of the competitors as advocates and witnesses in a mock criminal trial. Afterwards, they provided feedback and tips to the students.
The preliminary rounds saw active participation from numerous schools, including Farragut High School, Jefferson County High School, Knoxville Catholic High School, L & N STEM Academy, Maryville High School, Sequoyah High School, Sevier County High School, Lakeway Christian Academy, and Webb School of Knoxville. The Knoxville City County Building provided a fitting backdrop for the competition, with the courtrooms graciously made available by the Knox County Judiciary members.
Spicer Rudstrom is proud to support its attorneys’ dedication to community engagement and the development of aspiring legal talent.