Preparation Is Key

Written By: By Chloe Hsing-Smith and William Petsinger

Standing with quivering legs, attorneys are placed before people who are there to judge every action or syllable that escapes their mouths. Anxiety and the feeling of unease is well known to many new or even returning delegates. Through multiple interviews, the Justices of Youth and Government have been consistent with many ideas on how an attorney can compose themselves and calm their nerves. Here are some of the ways that the justices this year have recommended to YAG attorneys make their arguments even better:

Justice Laura Kelly uses the characteristic that relates the other members of YAG to herself, through the grade level and age she shares with the attorneys. She makes sure to remind herself that other delegates are very close to her own age. There is no reason to be intimidated because  “everyone here is just as terrified as you are,” says Kelly.

Avi Lukacher, another Justice, is well aware of how intimidating it can be to walk into a courtroom to present an argument to the Justices. He hopes to make attorneys aware that the Justices are all there to help. Lukacher stated that “preparation is key,” He maintains the view that practice will be one of the most beneficial methods to ease your presentation.

The Justices aim to ensure that attorneys are well prepared, confident, and comfortable when presenting their cases. They know that everyone can make every minute that they spent on their arguments count during their time in front of the Justices.