The Feinberg & Waller, APC, Mock Trial Leadership Award
The Feinberg & Waller, APC, High School Leadership award/mentor program amplifies teen voice and action by highlighting one student each year who has made an impact on their team and community.
The mock trial program is an academic competition in which students acquire knowledge of the American judicial system. Students have the opportunity to experience the drama of the courtroom as they learn the importance of civic participation in a democratic society through values expressed in our Constitution and its Bill of Rights. The firm wishes to support students involved in the program who are leaders in their communities for they will be our future attorneys, judges, activists, and public figures.
The Los Angeles Teach Democracy, formerly known as Constitutional Rights Foundation, mock trial program is a non-profit, non-partisan educational foundation.
It is co-sponsored by:
- Daily Journal Corporation
- Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
- Los Angeles County Superior Court
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
Feinberg & Waller would like to award one recipient:
- Three (3) mentor sessions leading up to the LA County competition in November (either in person or through virtual communications).
- One (1) meeting with the recipient’s entire team before the LA County competition (either in person or through virtual communications).
- One (1) mentor session after the LA County competition for the recipient to ask any questions they may have, such as further advice on becoming a lawyer, what the field of law looks like, networking, establishing a resume, etc. (either in person or through virtual communications).
- If the team advances to the State competition, an additional meeting with the entire team will be offered if they so choose.
- $500 for expenses related to the competition (i.e., printed materials, courtroom attire, travel, food).
- An offer to the recipient for a college letter of recommendation.
- Leadership Award title for college applications and future resumes.
2025 Applicant Criteria:
This Award preferences students who have:
- A love of the law
- Leadership both on the mock trial team and in their community
- An Attorney/Pre-Trial role on their team
- A validated high school grade point average of a minimum 2.8
- An affiliation with a registered Los Angeles County Mock Trial team and enrollment at the team’s school
- Rising juniors in high school
- This award particularly encourages applications from those whose backgrounds, experiences, or contributions reflect perspectives that are historically underrepresented in the legal profession. The recipient will be recognized for their leadership, service, and dedication to strengthening the values of equity and inclusion
Applications will be reviewed by the Feinberg & Waller Award Committee, which will evaluate candidates holistically based on the criteria outlined above. The award will be granted without regard to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, or any other protected characteristic.
Application Requirements:
- 1 personal statement of 500-1000 words (PDF format)
Applicant must describe why they became involved in mock trial, how they have acted as a leader on the team, what that entailed, and what they want to do in the future. While students with a love of the law are preferred, it is not required for the answer to be “lawyer”. Applicant will also describe how they have displayed leadership in the community with a description of any volunteer work or service activities, any school groups, or extracurriculars. In addition, if applicant is applying as an active ally of any of the communities described above, applicant must detail the work he/she has done to become to be an active ally.
- Resume (PDF format)
- Mock Trial Coach or Advisor’s name and email must be listed as a reference
- 2 Recommendations (PDF format)
- From Mock Trial Coach or Advisor
- From an Educator or Mentor
Application deadline is October 13, 2025.
Please submit all application materials or questions to Courtney Stensvold through email:
Subject line for the submission should be:
(First and Last Name), (High School), “Leadership Award”
Meet the 2025 Award Recipient: Valentina Aquino
Feinberg & Waller, APC, is proud to announce Valentina Aquino as the recipient of the 2025 Mock Trial Leadership Award.
A distinguished junior at Marymount High School in Los Angeles, Valentina exemplifies the award’s core values of leadership, service, and a commitment to advancing equity and inclusion through the law. Her journey in Mock Trial began as a prosecuting attorney in 10th grade, and she now serves as a closing attorney—roles through which she has demonstrated not only exceptional analytical skill but also a strong sense of fairness, collaboration, and mentorship. Valentina’s ability to inspire younger teammates and foster open, inclusive dialogue has made her an invaluable leader on her school’s newly founded Mock Trial team.
Beyond the courtroom, Valentina’s dedication to justice and civic engagement extends deeply into her academic and community pursuits. As a member of Marymount’s Student Diversity and Awareness Board, she has designed school-wide programs to promote cultural understanding and identity awareness. She also serves as Co-Editor of the News Section for The Anchor, Marymount’s student newspaper, where she helps shape student discourse on current events and social issues.
Valentina’s volunteer work reflects her compassion and commitment to service. Through her involvement with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Office of Immigration, she created educational materials to help clergy provide informed support to immigrants navigating the court system. She also tutors elementary students through the Learn To Be program, crafting personalized reading materials to foster literacy and confidence. Her international advocacy work with Leadership Initiatives—where she helped design strategies to combat early childhood marriage in Nigeria and raised over $2,000 for educational initiatives—further demonstrates her global awareness and drive to create tangible change.
Known for her academic excellence and curiosity, Valentina balances a challenging course load with leadership roles in Model United Nations, Basketball, and Spark Magazine, a debate and culture publication she founded to promote respectful discourse on social and political issues. Her innovative vision for the future—combining law, media, and culture to make civic education more accessible—embodies the spirit of this award.
“Valentina’s compassion, creativity, and intellectual curiosity reflect the very best of what this program seeks to honor,” says Marshall Waller. “Her leadership demonstrates how the next generation can use law not only to advocate but to connect and inspire.”
Feinberg & Waller congratulate Valentina Aquino on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to supporting her continued growth as a student leader, advocate, and changemaker.
For more information about the Feinberg & Waller Mock Trial Leadership Award and our community outreach initiatives, please visit our Community Outreach page.