{"id":17310,"date":"2025-03-21T10:40:50","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T14:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=17310"},"modified":"2025-03-31T12:55:18","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T16:55:18","slug":"wilmu-law-students-mentor-local-high-schoolers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2025\/03\/21\/wilmu-law-students-mentor-local-high-schoolers\/","title":{"rendered":"WilmU Law Students Mentor Local High Schoolers"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column17310_1483a9-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column17310_1483a9-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column17310_1483a9-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column17310_1483a9-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column17310_1483a9-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column17310_1483a9-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column17310_1483a9-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column17310_1483a9-e4{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column17310_1483a9-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column17310_1483a9-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column17310_1483a9-e4 dynamic-main-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading17310_5a314c-6f, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading17310_5a314c-6f[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading17310_5a314c-6f\"]{font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-family:proxima-nova;color:#808080;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading17310_5a314c-6f mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading17310_5a314c-6f[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading17310_5a314c-6f\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading17310_5a314c-6f img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading17310_5a314c-6f[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading17310_5a314c-6f\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading17310_5a314c-6f wu-subheading wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading17310_5a314c-6f\">Top row: Hannah Goldston and Britton Ody. Bottom row: Dalton Lahti and Andrea Rothbart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening statements, closing arguments, direct and cross examinations \u2014 students tackled all those and more at a recent Mock Trial Boot Camp, where J.D. candidates from <a href=\"https:\/\/law.wilmu.edu\/index.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wilmington University School of Law<\/a> helped local teens develop their talents.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was very endearing to see these law school students encourage my high school students,\u201d says <strong>Tami Soltow, J.D.<\/strong>, who practiced law before teaching at Concord High School in New Castle County. \u201cIt\u2019s just transformative.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her team won two of their four rounds at the <a href=\"https:\/\/delrec.org\/mock-trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2025 Delaware High School Mock Trial Competition<\/a>, scoring \u201ca wonderful improvement from last year.\u201d Three Concord High School students earned individual awards.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat boot camp was, in essence, hundreds of hours of information in a weekend,\u201d Soltow says. \u201cIt was an immeasurable experience.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She credits WilmU Law\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/law.wilmu.edu\/faculty\/veronica-finkelstein.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Veronica Finkelstein<\/strong><\/a>, an associate professor who <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2024\/12\/13\/volunteering-abroad-wilmu-law-professor-veronica-finkelstein-trains-nigerian-lawyers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">volunteers<\/a> with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nita.org\/s\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA)<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cVeronica has been a godsend to this team,\u201d says fellow Concord High School teacher <strong>Jennifer McKelvey<\/strong>. \u201cHer support, knowledge and excellence in teaching the law concepts has been a tremendous contribution to the team.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe want the law school to be a resource not just for our own law students but for lawyers in the community and for other members of the community, including local area high schools,\u201d Professor Finkelstein says. \u201cOur dean, <strong>Phillip Closius<\/strong>, has been super supportive of advocacy events like this.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides preparing high schoolers, the boot camp also helped <a href=\"https:\/\/cosmincret.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">laz555<\/a> her law students refine their skills before taking part in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.org\/member-groups\/events\/stac\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition<\/a> regional tournament in Philadelphia.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI believe that teaching students is the best way to learn. It may sound backwards, but being able to effectively communicate information to others reinforces your understanding of the material,\u201d says WilmU Law student <strong>Britton Ody<\/strong>. \u201cIn the end, it&#8217;s truly a mutually beneficial experience for everyone, and it&#8217;s nice to see younger students excited to learn about the law.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of those high schoolers could be future WilmU Wildcats.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMaybe one day they\u2019ll be sitting in that same classroom where we had boot camp, taking a law school class,\u201d Professor Finkelstein says. \u201cThat would be awesome.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id17310_fad96d-b7{margin-top:0em;}.kb-row-layout-id17310_fad96d-b7 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:center;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id17310_fad96d-b7 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:center;}.kb-row-layout-id17310_fad96d-b7 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:var( --global-content-width, 1290px );padding-left:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-right:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-top:0em;padding-right:0em;padding-bottom:0em;padding-left:0em;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id17310_fad96d-b7{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}.kb-row-layout-id17310_fad96d-b7 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id17310_fad96d-b7 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id17310_fad96d-b7{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kb-row-layout-id17310_fad96d-b7 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id17310_fad96d-b7{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}.wu-text-col,.wu-img-col {\tmin-height: 114px;}.wu-text-col &gt; div,.wu-img-col &gt; div {\tflex: 1;}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id17310_fad96d-b7 alignnone FULL wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-middle kb-theme-content-width\">\n<style>.kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );}.kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);}.kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column17310_780645-8d{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column17310_780645-8d > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}.kadence-column17310_780645-8d figure.image-is-svg {-webkit-margin-after: 1em;  margin-block-end: 1em;}img[src$=\".svg\"] {  max-width: 220px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column17310_780645-8d kb-section-dir-horizontal wu-img-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image17310_403ad3-2c:not(.kb-image-is-ratio-size) .kb-img, .kb-image17310_403ad3-2c.kb-image-is-ratio-size{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-image17310_403ad3-2c .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image17310_403ad3-2c size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"198\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/WilmU-School-of-law_long_fullcolor-750x198.png\" alt=\"Wilmington University School of Law Logo\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-5420\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/WilmU-School-of-law_long_fullcolor-750x198.png 750w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/WilmU-School-of-law_long_fullcolor-250x66.png 250w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/WilmU-School-of-law_long_fullcolor-768x203.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/WilmU-School-of-law_long_fullcolor-300x79.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/WilmU-School-of-law_long_fullcolor-1024x271.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/WilmU-School-of-law_long_fullcolor.png 1160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .wp-block-kadence-advancedgallery{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#eeeeee;}.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1{align-self:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1{align-self:auto;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}.kt-row-column-wrap &gt; .wp-block-kadence-column {align-self: stretch;}.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1 &gt; div {  padding-block: 1em;}.kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1 p:last-of-type {  -webkit-margin-after: 0;  margin-block-end: 0;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column17310_e9386d-c1 kb-section-dir-vertical wu-text-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"NoMargin\" style=\"font-size:1rem\"><em>Learn from engaging professors like Veronica Finkelstein at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/law.wilmu.edu\/index.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Wilmington University School of Law<\/em><\/a><em>, providing broad access to affordable legal education in a student-centered culture.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Top row: Hannah Goldston and Britton Ody. Bottom row: Dalton Lahti and Andrea Rothbart. Opening statements, closing arguments, direct and cross examinations \u2014 students tackled&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":17314,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"hide","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[906,594,595,159,14,15,384],"class_list":["post-17310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-mock-trial-competition","tag-national-institute-for-trial-advocacy","tag-nita","tag-school-of-law","tag-wilmington-university","tag-wilmu","tag-wilmu-law"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":2,"label":"ACADEMIC NEWS"}],"post_tag":[{"value":906,"label":"mock trial competition"},{"value":594,"label":"National Institute for Trial Advocacy"},{"value":595,"label":"NITA"},{"value":159,"label":"School of Law"},{"value":14,"label":"Wilmington University"},{"value":15,"label":"WilmU"},{"value":384,"label":"wilmu law"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Wilmington-University-mock-trial-1-480x480.jpg",480,480,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Mckayla Imperatrice","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/author\/mckayla\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":2,"name":"ACADEMIC NEWS","slug":"academic-news","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":559,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":460,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":2,"category_count":460,"category_description":"","cat_name":"ACADEMIC NEWS","category_nicename":"academic-news","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":906,"name":"mock trial competition","slug":"mock-trial-competition","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1463,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":594,"name":"National Institute for Trial Advocacy","slug":"national-institute-for-trial-advocacy","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1151,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":595,"name":"NITA","slug":"nita","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1152,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":159,"name":"School of Law","slug":"school-of-law","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":716,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":14,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":14,"name":"Wilmington University","slug":"wilmington-university","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":571,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":357,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":15,"name":"WilmU","slug":"wilmu","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":572,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":291,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":384,"name":"wilmu law","slug":"wilmu-law","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":941,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":13,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17310","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17310"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17310\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17894,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17310\/revisions\/17894"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17310"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}