Tyrone Senior Attends National Latino Leaders Law Camp

Brandon Escala presented with his Law Camp Certificate by one of the Federal Judges

Tyrone senior Brandon Escala was one of only 32 students nationwide to be accepted to the Future Latino Leaders Law Camp in Washington, DC.  From July 7 to July 15, Escala had the experience of a lifetime meeting Latino leaders, learning about the legal profession, improving his mock trial skills, and touring many national monuments and government agencies in the Washington DC area.

I learned how to prepare for a career in law, as well as valuable public speaking skills, and how to more efficiently absorb information and use it to my benefit.  I learned how to network in areas of extreme importance, as well as how to conduct myself in a courtroom setting, and how to ensure my client’s case would be won,” said Escala.

The Hispanic National Bar Foundation founded the Law Camp in 2005 to offer Latino students interested in the law the chance to travel to Washington D.C. and develop their knowledge and leadership skills. Because the camp is fully funded by the Hispanic Bar Association it costs the students involved nothing to attend.

I was exposed to so much of my culture that I wasn’t even aware of, I got to make friends from across the nation, and I learned a lot about law from my experience there

— Brandon Escala

For Escala, the trip proved to be a powerful experience.

“I was exposed to so much of my culture that I wasn’t even aware of, I got to make friends from across the nation, and I learned a lot about law from my experience there,” said Escala.

The program was structured to help students learn as much as they could in the nine days they were in D.C.  Every day was booked-solid and followed a tight schedule to maximize time.

“Each morning after breakfast we spent at least two hours at some government building such as the SEC, or at a building of historical importance, like the Supreme Court. We would then take the Metro to Hogan-Lovells, the 11th largest law firm in the world, for lunch and a lecture on law. Then, we would meet with one of our sponsors, like Walmart, or GM. After visiting another building or government agency, we would head home, work on our mock trial case, and talk about the day with the counselors. Then it was free-time and lights out,” said Escala.

Escala first learned about the camp from his mock trial coach, Todd Cammarata.

I received an email from the Pennsylvania state mock trial coordinator about the camp and I thought it looked like a fantastic experience and encouraged Brandon to apply. I’m really happy that he was accepted and had such a good experience

— Todd Cammarata

Being able to meet with leaders of influential companies gave Escala significant connections that will set him apart and give him an edge in the law business.

“[The experience] was surreal. My father works for GM, and here I am discussing the success and stigma of autonomous vehicles. One of the in-house lawyers for Walmart and I had a hilarious conversation about cannolis of all things. It was truly an amazing experience. While it was fun discussing the effect of autonomous vehicles on the job market, I would have to say I enjoyed meeting with the people at Walmart the most,” said Escala.

“I received an email from the Pennsylvania state mock trial coordinator about the camp and I thought it looked like a fantastic experience and encouraged Brandon to apply. I’m really happy that he was accepted and had such a good experience,” said Cammarata.

Not only did the program benefit Escala, but the Mock Trial team is also excited to learn any new tips and tricks for this upcoming season, as well.

“[I learned] how to create a timeline for a case, as well as how to tell a story, and to even shift blame on the opposing counsel,” said Escala, who is looking forward to applying what he learned this season.