CUNY School of Law students continued their legacy of excellence in trial advocacy last weekend, advancing to the semifinal round of the American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law’s 18th Annual National Trial Competition. The competition, held at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, showcased the Law School’s commitment to developing practice-ready attorneys.
Parima Kadikar and Amita Joshua
The Advanced Trial team of Parima Kadikar, Amita Joshua, Leigh Howard, and Jennifer Rubinshteyn demonstrated exceptional trial advocacy skills, defeating several strong teams before narrowly missing advancement to the finals in a close match against a team from Missouri.
Over an intensive two-day period, the CUNY Law team conducted three three-hour jury trials, with Kadikar and Joshua representing the defense while Howard and Rubinshteyn advocated for the plaintiff. When not serving as counsel, team members took on witness roles. The students displayed mastery of complex trial skills, including conducting direct and cross examinations, delivering compelling opening and closing statements, and arguing sophisticated procedural motions.
The team particularly distinguished itself through creative courtroom strategies. In a competition where technology use was restricted, CUNY Law students were among the few teams to effectively employ hand-written demonstrative exhibits, creating timelines during witness examinations that drew praise from the judge and jury panel of experienced labor and employment attorneys.
“It was a thrill to watch our amazing students,” said Professor Merrick T. Rossein, the team’s faculty advisor. “Their performance exemplifies CUNY Law’s emphasis on practical legal training and our commitment to preparing skilled advocates.”
For the students, the competition provided invaluable practical experience. “Taking Trial Practice with Professor Rossein was one of the most rewarding experiences of my law school career,” said Parima Kadikar. “Participating in the ABA trial competition helped me develop tangible skills like public speaking, storytelling, witness preparation, and deposition digestion, but it also made me feel confident and empowered. As someone who struggles with imposter syndrome from time to time, participating in a trial competition (especially with Prof. Rossein’s encouragement) helped me realize how prepared I am for a legal career. Honing these skills and improving my confidence felt especially important as a future public interest attorney because our clients deserve the highest quality representation possible.”
Leigh Howard and Jennifer Rubinshteyn
Team member Amita Joshua echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the transformative nature of the experience. “Before the trial competition, Professor Rossein encouraged us to imagine in our minds our energy, strength, and skill,” she said. “I know now that no matter if my heart is pounding or my voice is shaking, I can confidently stand up in court steadfast in my purpose, rely on the instincts I have developed through careful preparation and practice, and advocate for my client fiercely and effectively. Trial Practice has easily been the most rewarding and transformative learning experience I have had during my time at CUNY Law.”
This achievement adds to CUNY Law’s strong track record in this competition. The school won the inaugural competition 19 years ago and has consistently advanced to later rounds, earning a reputation for excellence that has led retired U.S. Magistrate Judge Peck to note that he “always expect[s] CUNY students appearing before me in the final round.”
The team’s performance reflects CUNY Law’s enduring commitment to developing skilled advocates through hands-on experience. Their success demonstrates that rigorous trial advocacy training remains central to preparing lawyers who can effectively serve clients and communities, regardless of practice area.
