Meet Max: the new Mock Trial coach
As a kid, Max Handler really liked arguing.
He started putting his arguing skills to good use when he joined the mock trial team at his Boston-area high school. He competed for four years there and went on to compete for four more years as a student at Washington University in St. Louis.
After graduation, he got a job teaching but never dropped mock trial. He volunteered to coach mock trial–first at his alma mater and then at Wellesley College near Boston.
So it’s clear that we don’t need to present any evidence or cross-examine Handler to know he’s ready for his next mock trial chapter here at Cornell as the new full-time coach.
“Mock trial was a really transformative experience for me in college,” Handler said. “I learned a lot of skills and have a lot of incredible memories, and I think it’s unique and intellectually stimulating. There’s not really anything else like it. I want to give Cornell students some version of the experience that I had.”
What are your goals?
I want to create a program that is something students want to stay in for four years, something that is going to be really meaningful for them, and something they are going to take with them forever.
As for my competitive goals, Cornell consistently makes ORCS, the Opening Round Championship Series, and that’s something I would definitely like to continue. I’ve been coaching for five years now and of those five years, four years I’ve been able to qualify two teams to ORCS. I’d like for Cornell to qualify multiple teams to ORCS consistently and return to nationals.
What’s something you want Cornellians to know about you?
My door is always open! I’m always looking to meet and talk with new people. I don’t know many people in the area yet, so if people have suggestions about things to do, places to eat, or anything like that–I’m all ears. Mock trial is a really cool activity and if there are ways it could be spread throughout the Cornell community, I’m always happy to do it.
What’s something about mock trials that people don’t know?
It’s not just about law. One of the most important parts of mock trial is the witnesses. Witnesses are scored, and every single round your team will call three witnesses who are people from your team. You have people portraying these witnesses and they can be really funny, they can be really dramatic, or they can be an expert witness who is just really smart. That’s really what makes mock trial so interesting and so great.
What are your thoughts as you get started here at Cornell?
I’m excited to be here. It’s a really unique and cool opportunity that I’m super grateful for. I think it’s kind of funny after all these years after competing against Cornell and being like that’s such a good program to now getting to be a part of it. That’s really cool.
Fun mock trial facts:
6-10 people are on each mock trial team
The mock trial season starts in September and could go through April.
New Cornell students can receive a scholarship to compete on the mock trial team.
Mock trial teams across the country all receive the same case that they argue throughout the year. Teams only get a second case if they go to nationals.
The next mock trial tournament is Oct. 13–15 at the University of Minnesota.
