CHICAGO: The four-member Chicago-Kent trial advocacy team comprising an Indian American student Shahina Khan, 18, and three others finished second at the 2017 National Civil Trial Competition, held October 21 and 22 in Santa Monica and Los Angeles, CA.
The team had earlier triumphed over Georgetown University Law Center, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, and American University Washington College of Law in the preliminary rounds and then defeated American again in the semifinal round. It defeated the American University Washington College of Law in semi finals.
The invitation-only tournament is designed to provide student litigants with an opportunity to develop and display the skills of a successful civil litigator. Chicago-Kent comprised Shahina Khan, Kristen Farr Capizzi 18, Alexis Halsell18, and Jesse Pollans18. The Chicago-Kent lost to Samford University Cumberland School of Law that won the championship.
This year, students argued a wrongful death case involving a teenager who died while celebrating his high school graduation when he stood on the bulkhead of an open-top, double-decker bus to take a picture and hit his head.
Shahina Khan majored in criminology, law and justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is daughter of Engr. Ameer Khan and granddaughter of Late Nawab Wajid Ali Khan, S.P. Jesse Pollans earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and Spanish at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
She is also the recipient of prestigious J.J. Bittenbinder Award in UIC and the Obama Award for her championship in extra and co-curricular activities during High School years. She is the President for Criminal Law Society, Muslim Law Student Association and member of Trail advocacy Team
(2017-2018). Earlier, she also served as the Vice President for these associations. She graduated from University of Illinois at Chicago in 2015 with a bachelors in Criminal law with honors.
Shahina Khan belongs to the aristocratic family of old Hyderabad Estate. She is the daughter of Engr. Ameer Mohammed Ali Khan, Practicing Consultant of IDOT, and granddaughter of President’s Gold Medalist, Late Nawab Wajid Ali Khan, Superintendent of Police, former Andhra Pradesh.
Shahina’s great grandfather, Abul Faiz Mirza Mohammed Ali Baig, was an eminent lawyer. He was one of the few eminent lawyers who had an opportunity to write the Indian Constitution.
The National Civil Trial Competition is hosted by Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. Chicago-Kent’s team was coached by alumni and former trial team members.
Surendra Ullal
