Senior Project Reflection

(1) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your 2-Hour Presentation and/or your senior project? Why?

I was extremely proud of myself going up and presenting without being nervous "I was nervous, because I was wasn't nervous" I'm usually nervous going up and presenting in front of people but this time I felt confident and strong.  

(2) Questions to Consider

a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your 2-Hour Presentation (self-assessment)? Why?

P-/AP+ because I felt as if my mock trial (activity) didn't go as planned, I was expecting people to be more involved in the whole mock trial.  I really thought it was going to be an intense activity. Other than that I thought I explained things very clearly and gave them tons of information about my answers to "what is most important to winning a criminal case?"

b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)? Why?

P because I thought I did pretty well overall with my senior project. I completed everything that needed to be done such as SF, independent component 1&2, service learning, blogs, research check, etc. 

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

Senior project was something I really enjoyed, so everything worked for me. I had no problems with anything besides service learning. The one thing I really enjoyed doing was my service learning even though I had problems in the beginning. I worked with one of the best attorneys I've have ever met. I learned so much from attorney Antonio because without him I wouldn't know as much as I do now from his help. 

(4) What didn’t work for you in your senior project?

I had no problem  with senior project, it was actually something I enjoyed doing. BUT!!! there was one small problem "coming up with a schedule with Antonio because as everyone knows lawyers have the BUSIEST schedule so it was hard. It was coming to a point where I was going to have to try to see if another attorney can squeeze me in, but I sat with Antonio an told him that I really needed the hours if not I was going to go work with a different attorney. 

(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples. 

Senior project defiantly will become helpful with tons of things in the future such as overcoming my fears of presenting after finishing my 2 hour presentation I knew I could now present in front of anyone without being nervous, being able to handle any challenge that comes my way, and especially the connection I have with different attorneys and judges because in the future while attending law school I will never know if I ever might need help with anything and I know I will defiantly have the sources to fall back on. 

2-Hour Presentation

Link

Service Learning

Antonio J. Bestard (909) 208-0093

Working with Antonio was probably my favorite part of my senior year project. Meeting tons of attorneys and judges was the best experience I’ve had ever had. Antonio helped me with so much; he helped me understand the real meaning of criminal law. I hardly knew anything walking in Antonio’s office and now I know more than ever. Answering phone calls, filling papers, going to court, helping with cases definitely all paid off. There’s not one thing I would change while working with attorney Antonio J. Bestard.

What is most important to winning a criminal case? The most important thing to winning a criminal case is to create reasonable doubt in the minds of jury. Working with my number one person (Antonio) who helped me established my first answer gave me a big head start on my essential question. Throughout my service learning and trying to figure out my best answer to my essential question while working with Antonio going to court was the best help because I watched Antonio use reasonable doubt in the minds of jury. Giving my feedback to Antonio after reading cases also helped me because I had to figure out ways to prove that the defendant wasn’t guilty. So many things fall in place with “what’s most important to winning a criminal case” such as my other two answers; motions to dismiss and innocent until proven guilty. By creating reasonable doubt in the minds of jury an attorney should question any and all witnesses, negotiate deals and terms with prosecutors that may result in reducing charges and lesser sentence, suggest alternatives that a judge may consider, provide you with honest assessments of where your case is headed and your alternatives to avoid trial. I can honestly say every second  I spent with Antonio, I  was learning something new which helped me find my best answer and as well as my second and third.