Biz now Article on Higher Achievement

On Monday, Mayer Brown hosted 20 Higher Achievement middle school legal all-stars for a mock trial competition. At issue: the explosion of firecrackers in the locker of one Jesse Sunderland, a middle-schooler at the fictitious Jefferson School. Was it Jesse’s handiwork, or a set-up orchestrated by bullies? Prior to the trial, the young scholars were given a tour of Mayer Brown’s offices and thereby given the impression that being a lawyer is a cushy job. Nevertheless, they were swiftly disabused of that impression as they became embroiled in the case’s high-stakes courtroom antics. The only thing more shocking than the advanced prose we observed springing forth from these young tykes? The verdict.

Despite a riveting argument by defense counsel (above), the defendant was convicted on all charges by both juries. After the ruling, we observed several unnamed Mayer Brown lawyers volunteering to take up the defendant’s appeal pro bono. Yet another partner at the firm, who spoke to us on the condition of anonymity, hinted that several of the participants have been short-listed for the summer associate class of 2025.