Canisius College student Rianna Iorillo '21, of Ridgefield took home top honors at the 2nd annual Geneseo Joust Mock Trial Invitational, held November 21 - 22, 2020.
Iorillo won the competition awards for Top Attorney and Top Witness. This was her final competition before graduation. Iorillo is a political science major at Canisius College and student coordinator of its Mock Trial Team. She competed along with eight other Canisius team members.
Established in 2006, the college's Mock Trial team is a one-credit course open to pre-law students who want to learn more about trial proceedings and rules of evidence, while honing valuable courtroom skills. Students are advised by Canisius alumnus and adjunct professor WIlliam Lorenz Jr. '09. Lorenz is an associate attorney at HoganWillig PLLC, who has practiced civil and criminal litigation, family law, intellectual property law and real estate law.
The Canisius College Frank G. Raichle '68 Pre-Law Center - named for one of the best trial lawyers in New York State - is home to the region's most comprehensive pre-law program. While not an academic major, Canisius' pre-law support program provides the foundational knowledge, hands-on experience and expert guidance students need to make the transition to law school. Students can major in any academic discipline but if a law degree is the long-term goal, enrolling in this program is an important first step.
One of 27 Jesuit universities in the nation, Canisius is the premier private university in Western New York. Canisius celebrates its sesquicentennial anniversary during the 2019-20 academic year, marking 150 years of Jesuit education and leadership in the city of Buffalo and Western New York.