The trial team members are chosen through a competitive selection process. Membership brings academic credit. Team members enroll in two Advanced Trial Advocacy Courses: Pre-Trial Motions Practice and Evidence Strategies. In their first year of membership, students earn 4 credits. In their second year on the team, students earn 3 credits. Team members try at least two cases per year – one fall and one spring.

There will be trial team INFORMATION SESSIONS held on WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, ROOM 1C; and THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, ROOM 1E, at 12pm.

AUDITION INFORMATION - Fall 2012

Auditions for spots on the 2012-13 Trial Team were held this past spring and are again being held in early September ‘12. All current students beyond the first year may audition for these spots. Students who auditioned in the spring are encouraged to audition in the fall.

The fall audition has three parts to it and is divided into two rounds. In Round 1, you will be asked to give a closing speech for either the prosecution or the defendant (your choice) in a mock file which will be posted. You may be interrupted and asked to address a particular part of the case. You may also be asked to speak extemporaneously about a topic of our choosing. If you get called back for Round 2, you will be assigned a partner and asked to try the case -- that is, selective parts of the mock file in a limited amount of time against two other advocates. Finally, you may be interviewed about your background, schedule and commitment. At the end of the fall auditions, the names of the members of the 2012-13 trial team will be posted.

FALL AUDITIONS will be held on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 9am-6pm and Wednesday, September 5, beginning at 9am [if needed]. For those who advance, ROUND 2 will be held on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, beginning at 9am.

Fall AUDITION SIGN UP will begin on MONDAY, AUGUST 27. Email Mary.Beth.Wilson@temple.edu  to sign up for an audition time. NOTE: Audition times are scheduled every 10 minutes during days/times listed above.

2012-2013 National Trial Team Members: TBA

TU Law National Trial Team Audition Problem 

Recent Trial Team coaches:

Barbara Ashcroft is a former Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney and is currently the Director of the LL.M. In Trial Advocacy Program at Temple and an Associate Professor.

Marissa Bluestine is a former Assistant Public Defender from Philadelphia and is the current Legal Director of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project. While at Temple, Marissa was a National Quarter-Finalist.

Marian Braccia is a Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney. While at Temple, she won the Criminal Justice Competition at Quinnipiac and was a National Quarter-Finalist.

Jennifer Bretschneider is a former Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney assigned to the Family Violence & Sexual Assault Unit and Homicide Unit. She is currently the Director of Experiential Programs and Assistant Professor of Law at Temple.

Brian Burack is a Chester County Assistant District Attorney. While at Temple, Brian was an NTC Regional Champion.

Carrie Cinquanto is a former Philadelphia Public Defender and Director of LL.M. In Trial Advocacy at Temple. She is currently a managing member of Cornerstone Legal Consultants.

Jacquelyn Coelho is a Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney in the homicide unit.

Christopher de-Barrena Sarobe is a Chester County Assistant District Attorney assigned to the drug unit. He has coached invitational winners and was a National Quarter-Finalist.

Priya DeSouza is a Chester County Assistant District Attorney. As a competitor, she was a National Semi-Finalist.

Alex Gosfield is a Chester County Assistant District Attorney. While at Temple, Alex was a National Finalist.

Sara Guccini is an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia and a former trial team member.

Sara Jacobson is a former Philadelphia Assistant Public Defender. She is currently the Director of Trial Advocacy Programs and an Associate Professor at Temple.

Maureen McCartney is an Assistant United States Attorney and former Director of Trial Advocacy at Temple.  Maureen has coached multiple regional, invitational, and national championship teams.

Eileen Monaghan-Ficaro is an associate at White and Williams. While at Temple, Eileen was a National Quarter-Finalist.

Rahul Munshi is an Associate at the Console Law Offices. He is a former NTC trial team member, and has coached teams to invitational championships.

Edward D. Ohlbaum is a Professor of Law and Director of Trial Advocacy Programs at Temple. He has been coaching the trial team since its inception in 1986.

Jessica O'Neill is Assistant Regional Counsel with the United States Environmental Protection Agency in Philadelphia. While a student at the Georgetown Law Center, she was a member of the National Trial Competition Team for two years, competing as a finalist in the regional competition both years.

Justin Oshana is an Associate at Saltz, Mongeluzzi and former JAG officer. While at Temple, he won the Tournament of Champions, was a two time Regional Champion and National Quarter-Finalist, and served as the President of the Moot Court Honor Society.

Mia Roberts Perez is a former Philadelphia Assistant Public Defender in the Major Trials unit and currently runs her own criminal defense practice. While at Temple, Mia won the Tournament of Champions and was a finalist at the American Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA) national championship. She was also on the National Black Law Students Association (BLSA) Mock Trial Championship Team in 2005.

Nina Spizer has worked as an Assistant Public Defender in both the state and federal offices.  She is currently the Assistant Chief of the Trial Unit at the Federal Community Defender Office.

Nyssa Taylor is an Assistant Public Defender who has worked in both the Federal and State Offices in the Appeals Unit.

Marie Trijo is an Associate at White & Williams. While at Temple, she was a National Semi- and Quarter-Finalist at the American Association for Justice [AAJ] Trial Competition.