AH Interviews: Eric Schuster on Mock Trial and Team Success

The many developments of 2020 and 2021, from the COVID-19 pandemic to blizzards and wildfires worldwide, have caused different, trying times to be suddenly interposed into our lives. With changes like social distancing and mask guidelines, many have been forced to adapt their daily cycles to new circumstances. However, that does not mean success has been unwarranted, as seen with the many moments of camaraderie, prosperity, awareness, and more, even in aspects of our own school. The Abington Heights Mock Trial team has had a wonderful season in particular, even being slated to represent Pennsylvania in the national tournament this May. I had the chance to interview senior Eric Schuster, who has been on the team for three years as an attorney and witness.

• What exactly is Mock Trial, and what drove you to join the program?

Eric: Mock trial is a competition where we simulate a real trial with witnesses, attorneys, a real jury, and a real judge. I joined the program when I realized that in the future, I wanted to be an attorney and that this would be the best way for me to get exposure to the career.

• What are your thoughts on it-- what is interesting, or enjoyable? Is it the experience, or the people, or the setting?

Eric: I think the program is really great. The team gets along really well, there is no conflict and the coaches do a great job at helping make us the best we can be. For me, I really love law and critical thinking and everything else that comes with Mock Trial, so for me it is very enjoyable.

• What skills do you derive from Mock Trial? What skills do you think are important to succeed?

Eric: All the skills we derive themselves are skills that are very important to succeed in the program. One of the main ones is obviously public speaking. You have to be able to get up in front of your peers, your coaches, prestigious attorneys, and judges, and be able to do your part without messing up. A second skill you need is critical thinking. You have to be able to analyze the case to build it, but you also need to be able to think on your feet. Although much of it is scripted, that can change in an instant with an objection or a challenging cross examination question.

• Obviously, this whole year has been quite different with the virtual setting and whatnot. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected this season, and how do you feel about it?

Eric: The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely thrown a little bit of a wrench in our season. Everything we had this year from our preseason tournament to the actual competitions have been virtual. This is the first time ever that it has been virtual so we had to adjust to think “Ok, how do we make sure we have good wifi, and how do we object, and when do we turn our cameras on?” And slowly but surely we were able to figure this out. There is even the issue of when people are put in quarantine and how we deal with that. One of the things that stinks the most though, is how different it feels. It is as if the whole competition was stripped down to its bare bones. Normally we are in an actual courtroom in front of a judge and full jury, but now with it being virtual it feels like all of the pomp and circumstance of the whole thing is lost.

• How do you feel about representing PA in the National competition?

Eric: It feels incredible to be able to represent PA. The last time there was a national competition in 2018 (last year’s was cancelled with the pandemic) Holy Cross high school was PA’s representative, so it is really cool that we are keeping the representation in this area. They got eighth when they competed on the national stage, so we are hoping to do better than that for some friendly bragging rights.

• Do you plan on pursuing something related to Mock Trial post high school?

Eric: I personally plan to eventually attend law school in my life, but I know some of the others on the team have different plans. All of us though will definitely be taking the skills we learned here, as well as the memories, into whatever we may be doing next.

• What would you tell students who are considering joining Mock Trial? Any advice, or warnings?

Eric: I would really encourage anyone who wants to do Mock Trial to try out. It is a great team with great people and great coaches, and it really is fun. One word of advice though, is that it is a lot of work, so there is a big time commitment involved.

Well wishes towards the AHHS Mock Trial team for the national tournament from May 13th to 15th!