IIT Chicago-Kent to participate in the Buffalo-Niagara Mock Trial Competition

IIT Chicago-Kent students Tracey Harkins, Lindsay Hicks, Paige Olsen and Kendra Spearman will represent the law school at the twelfth annual Buffalo-Niagara Mock Trial Competition November 7 to 10.

This prestigious invitational tournament, featuring several of the nation's top-ranked trial teams, is hosted by the SUNY Buffalo Law School and will be held at Buffalo City Court. Law students will try both sides of a homicide case before experienced judges and trial attorneys who volunteer as judges and evaluators. After the preliminary rounds, the top 16 teams advance to the final rounds. Awards are presented for Best Opening, Best Direct, Best Cross, Best Summation and Best Advocate.

Team member Tracey Harkins is a third-year student who completed her undergraduate education at DePaul University with a degree in women's and gender studies with a concentration in law and social justice. Teammate Lindsay Hicks, also a third-year student, earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from Kansas State University and a master of social work degree at Washington University in St. Louis. Teammate Paige Olsen, a second-year student, earned her undergraduate degree magna cum laude in painting and Spanish literature from Loyola University Chicago, where she received a master's degree in Spanish literature. Teammate Kendra Spearman is a third-year student who received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff and a master's degree in public administration with an emphasis in public management from DePaul University. Spearman is currently working on a master's degree in Christian ministry at Northern Seminary.

The team is coached by IIT Chicago-Kent alumni Erik Wilson '12, Marcell Taylor '12 and Josh Rehak '15.

Founded in 1888, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law is the law school of Illinois Institute of Technology, also known as Illinois Tech, a private, technology-focused, research university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, science, architecture, business, design, human sciences, applied technology, and law. IIT Chicago-Kent's trial advocacy teams have won numerous individual student honors and regional and national competitions. In the most recent U.S. News & World Report graduate school rankings, IIT Chicago-Kent's Trial Advocacy Program is ranked fourth in the country.