Fort Hamilton’s Law Team has just completed another season, competing both at Fordham Law School as a part of the MENTOR Moot Court program and at the Brooklyn District Courthouse as a part of the NYSBA Mock Trial competition.
Many of this year’s law team members are slated to graduate in June and expressed gratitude for the years they got to spend with the team. “It’s so much fun to see who I’m working with and how they carry themselves in the courtroom,” said Sophia DeCamp, current senior and Law Team co-captain.
Numerous other students on the Law Team shared DeCamp’s sentiments.
“My favorite part of being on the team was definitely meeting new people and getting a clearer direction of what I wanted to do in the future,” said Paula Nascimento-Daudt, senior and Law Team member. “Before joining Law Team, I didn’t really have a friend group and was really confused on what I wanted to do with my life. But, when I joined, I made friends that I hung out with even outside of the team, and that is something I’m eternally grateful for.”
For the mock trial competition, students handled a fake trial, centered on an arson started by the character of Lindsay Gordon, played by Melissa Bushi. Bushi, a junior new to the Law Team, claimed that being on the team gave her an opportunity to do what she loved. As a student trying to decide between studying neuroscience and law, she felt that joining helped her fall in love with law.
Daudt, likewise, noted that participating in the Law Team “solidified [her] love for the law, which is what [she plans] to pursue in the future.
“I also think that Law Team kind of got me to break out of my shell in terms of public speaking and arguing, especially because I’m usually quite shy,” she added.
Mr. Kaminsky is the social studies teacher in charge of Fort Hamilton’s Law Program, a series of law-related electives. These courses include various hands-on projects relating to studying the legal system and how it impacts one’s own life. Mr. Kaminsky also coaches the Law Team.
“Coaching this team is such an honor,” Mr. Kaminsky said. “Seeing how much time and effort the team members put in is inspiring. To see their faces after they do so well at competition and have true pride in themselves is great. They bring pride to themselves and to Fort Hamilton.”
Although much of the team is graduating this year, Mr. Kaminsky is optimistic for next year’s season.
“It is bittersweet to see them graduating,” he remarked. “Having known the seniors for years and watching them get better each year has been terrific. The team will miss them for sure, but it is also exciting to see them begin the next chapter of their lives. Even though they are leaving, they will always be part of the team.”
For those interested in becoming new members, Bushi told The Pilot that the Law Team looks for students with certain qualities: “I think someone able to work in teams and put the commitment and work into it and have time, not just doing it for college applications, but doing it because they’re genuinely interested, would be great joining,” Bushi said.
