LEGAL ADVICE—La Reina High School mock trial team attorney coach Jean Wentz, left, attorney Ron Bamieh, and students Thea Percival, 18, and Hannah Young, 16, go through the arguments for their case at the Ventura law offices of Bamieh & Erickson on Monday. The team is practicing around-the-clock for the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Phoenix starting May 5. IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers It’s the first day of spring break and La Reina High School’s mock trial state champions are on campus memorizing their lines.

From May 5 to 7, they’ll represent California at the 28th annual National High School Mock Trial Championship in Phoenix, hosted by the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education.

The team has been given 30 days to research and assess both sides of a fictitious civil case in which a Native American tribe has sued a corporation for mining uranium on the tribe’s land.

EVERY WORD MATTERS—La Reina High School attorney coach Kendall Jones, right, runs through the script with student Lena Melillo, 16, as they prepare arguments for their case. IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers As attorneys and witnesses, the students must memorize lengthy monologues and anticipate unexpected turns, create cross-examination questions and prepare for interrogations before they compete against other high schools from the United States, Guam and South Korea.

During the state competition, which they won in March, the young role-players performed at bench trials, meaning a judge alone rendered the verdict. At the national level, the students must prepare for a jury trial and federal, rather than state, rules.

“It’s nerve-racking, especially with the limited time frame to prepare the case,” said sophomore Lena Melillo. “Usually we have months to prepare, but now we only have one month to prepare a different case with different rules.”

This is sophomore Katie Gerbasi’s second year as a member of the team.

“It’s crazy. It’s like a sport, but more intense because everyone’s relying on everything you say and do,” she said.

Senior Alyssa Mallory said there was competition within the team, too.

“Freshman year I was a shadow, so I had to rise through the ranks and fight my way to get a part. You don’t get (parts) based on seniority. You have to earn it,” said Alyssa, who plans to attend the University of Chicago in the fall and then go to law school.

Faculty adviser Liz Harlacher has taught speech and debate at La Reina for nine years and guided mock trial since 2007. The following year, the high school won its first state title.

Harlacher said the team members, who also participate in speech and debate contests, were experienced competitors.

“Most of these girls have done 200 (competition) rounds or more. So they have a good work ethic for this kind of academic competition,” she said.

Five volunteer attorneys also help coach the team. Kendall Jones and Jean Wentz, who have separate law practices in Thousand Oaks, said they were impressed by the team’s performance.

“These girls are incredibly inspiring and so talented,” Jones said. “They are basically experiencing the first year of law school. They know the law better than most attorneys do. When you see their talent, skill and grasp of these subjects, it makes you feel very optimistic about the future.”

Jones said about half of the squad wanted to pursue law careers. But for those not interested in becoming lawyers, thinking analytically has its benefits.

“(It’s an) attractive idea to engage your brain the way this activity does,” said the coach.

“Not only has it been really fun,” said Wentz, “it’s been incredibly rewarding to work with such a talented and accomplished group of young women. They never cease to amaze me with their intellect, quick wit and amazing work ethic.”

Team members said studying the law and defending two sides in theoretical cases has taught them to work hard and act confident.

“I’ve learned how much work I’m willing to put into a single thing. The level of focus and commitment (in mock trial) is beyond compare,” said junior Olivia Polk.

The fact that Elizabeth Epstein, a senior, wants to be a veterinary surgeon one day didn’t stop her from giving her all to gain knowledge in a very different field.

“We’ve worked so hard, the hardest I’ve probably ever worked for something,” she said.