Living the Legacy: An Alumni Perspective
This week’s blog post is guest-written by Henry Leaman, Class of 2017. Henry served as Miami Mock Trial’s President for two years and recently graduated from Notre Dame Law School. He’s still actively involved in AMTA—chances are you’ll see him at an AMTA tournament in the future! Henry asked to write about his MMT experiences, and we would never pass on an opportunity to hear from an alumnus.
Leaman, far left, with MMT’s Class of 2017; an update on the Class of 2017 can be found here.
When I attended Miami University in the fall of 2014, Miami Mock Trial was at the forefront of my mind. I went into my first tryout hoping to earn a spot, learn from the best, and grow as an advocate. Seven years later, I can happily say that I did earn a spot, that I learned from All-Americans, and that I grew both as a competitor and as a person. I am now a law school graduate, sitting in quarantine studying for the bar exam, stealing away whatever time I can spare to read MMT’s blog. It is heartwarming and endearing; the stories current students share remind me of all the blessings and memories MMT gave me. And looking back, I realize that my MMT experience gave me something else: a professional network and support system.
Miami Mock Trial gave me mentorship. In the fall of my senior season, I was fiercely debating between multiple midwestern law schools. How was I supposed to know the difference between them? What made the University of Minnesota different from Ohio State University; Loyola Chicago vs Notre Dame? How was I supposed to choose between competitive scholarships on one hand, and reach schools on the other? Thankfully, I did not have to make the decision alone. I had coaches to turn to, practicing attorneys from a range of fields, who could tell me what questions to ask and what would be valuable years down the line. My coach Neal Schuett took me and another student on a tour of his alma mater, the University of Iowa. Another coach, Gus Lazares, put me in touch with one of his old classmates to discuss Northwestern Law School, a school I was dreaming of attending. I also had countless alumni at my fingertips; Allie Pickerill (Class of 2014) [Eds. Note: Allie is an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Montgomery County, Ohio] gave me the best advice in my selection process, and Krista McDonald (Class of 2012) [Eds. Note: Krista is a Law Clerk to the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Chicago] ultimately swayed me to attend the University of Notre Dame—a decision I have been happy with every day since. Miami Mock Trial not only gave me skills and memories, but also assets and resources to build my early career.
Miami Mock Trial also gave me a support system when I was trudging through law school. David Payne (Class of 2014) [Eds. Note: David is an Associate in Frost Brown Todd, LLC’s Louisville office], Ben Sandlin (Class of 2016), and Sam Hobbs (Class of 2016) [Sam is an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Union County, Ohio] all helped me survive my first year. They gave me advice on how to take notes and how to outline, how to network and how to look for jobs. They helped calm my nerves when it was exam time and they inspired me to work hard even when I thought the tank was empty. Even on my worst day in law school, their charity helped remind me that even when you leave Oxford, you never truly leave The Legacy.
As I advanced in law school and got closer to practicing, the post-graduation benefits of Miami Mock Trial never ceased to amaze me. When I was trying to decide which law firms to interview with, the alumni base was happy to tell me the pros and cons. When I was traveling to Columbus, or D.C., there was always someone I could get dinner with. I was able to get student jobs in law school because of my time with MMT—coaching Mock Trial no less! And when I began working as a summer associate in downtown Chicago, I was able to immediately connect with other AMTA alumni and learn the ropes about my field.
When competitors and alumni tell you about “The Legacy,” they are not just telling you about the storied history competitors inherit with MMT. They are not just trying to hype up the college memories and connections you will make, or the sense of Love and Honor you will get by representing Miami University on the national stage. They are also trying to tell you this: The Legacy will always be there for you. When you travel to a new city, odds are that you will know a former teammate, coach, or competitor there. When you must decide on a law school, or legal job, you will have a reservoir of wisdom at your fingertips. And when you graduate from Miami University on a sunny May day, you will have the comfort of knowing that wherever you go, you will never walk alone. The Legacy will always have your back, pulling along whatever professional advice you need in a small, little red wagon.
Henry is a valuable member of the Legacy, and soon-to-be member of the Illinois Bar. If you are interested in joining the Legacy and sharing it with Henry and countless other members, you can find out more here.