Karen Walter Of Rutan & Tucker, LLP Named Mock Trial Attorney Coach Of The Year

Karen Walter, a partner with Costa Mesa-based law firm Rutan & Tucker, LLP, has been named an Attorney Coach of the Year for her work with the Mock Trial team at El Dorado High School of Placentia. The team recently participated in the 2010 Constitutional Rights Foundation, Orange County (CRF-OC) Mock Trial competition.

Mock Trial combines law-related education with tournament style competition. Using a simulated criminal court case, students explore current and complex legal, social and constitutional issues. Each year, student teams from over 40 local high schools prepare to enact every role in a trial with the guidance of attorney and teacher coaches. Each round of the competition takes place at the courthouse in front of real judges and attorneys who volunteer to score the students’ performances.

Walter has participated for many years as a student, scorer and attorney coach for the competition. She serves on CRF-OC’s Board of Directors and is the chair of the Mock Trial committee.

As a litigation partner in the firm's Public Law Section, she represents public and private clients in complex matters such as inverse condemnation, consumer class action defense and appellate work. She received her law degree from Stanford Law School in 1996.

“We encourage our attorneys to be involved with organizations, such as the Constitutional Rights Foundation, Orange County, that challenge young minds,” Ski Harrison, the firm’s managing partner, who is a former principal and school district superintendent.