The Mock Trial program serves to provide students with an opportunity to practice and refine their debate and acting skills, along with allowing them to learn about courtroom procedure, decorum, and rules of law. The goal of Mock Trial is to educate students about the basis of our American judicial system and the mechanics of litigation.
What is a mock trial?
A mock trial is a pretend trial and may involve either civil or criminal issues, just like a real trial. Some court rules and procedures are modified to simplify the process. In a mock trial, the students present the case and act as the main characters in the courtroom. The purpose of the mock trial is to learn more about courtroom procedures and the people and rights involved with the legal system. It also teaches how to evaluate both sides of an issue and resolve conflicts in a nonviolent manner. A mock trial follows the trial procedure of the lower courts.
Since a trial is held because two people or groups of people cannot solve a conflict or, in the case of a criminal trial, because the state believes someone has committed a crime, any story about a conflict can be used for a mock trial. Good sources for situations are books, newspaper stories, current events, television shows, movies, or events in school.
The trial procedure solves a conflict by presenting facts to an impartial judge and/or jury. Each side of the case, through its lawyers, argues as strongly as possible following the rules of the court to influence the final verdict. The judge/jury listens to all the facts, weighs the evidence presented, and makes a fair decision. The presiding judge and the scoring jury do not determine guilt or innocence, but instead determines which side best presented a clear understanding of the trial process and case materials.
Inspiring Future Law Professionals
There are Mock Trial lessons for elementary school students and competition opportunities for middle school students and high school students. Many Middle School Mock Trial participants go on to participate in High School Mock Trial. Mock Trial participants express significant learning from the experience, and cite the experience as one element that helped them choose a career in law or a related field.
mock trial competitions
Several weeks ahead of time, Middle and High School Mock Trial teams are presented with a case and must learn to prosecute and defend the case. They must also practice playing the parts of witnesses for the case. Then, students come to the competition and are judged on how they do all of the above as compared to other teams. There is a statewide winner, and that team goes to the national competition. An online discussion forum is available for Mock Trial teachers, attorney coaches and students.
Register to Volunteer
Mock Trial Discussion Forum
High School Mock Trial
Learn More
The High School Mock Trial (HSMT) Program is a hands-on exercise in learning about due process. It is most often conducted as an extracurricular activity but can also be incorporated into law, forensics or public speaking classes. Public schools, private schools, and home school groups are welcome and encouraged to participate.
Middle School Mock Trial
Learn More
The Middle School Mock Trial (MSMT) Program is a hands-on exercise in learning about due process. It is a team activity program that is most often conducted as an extracurricular activity, but can also incorporated into law, forensics or public speaking classes.
Elementary Mock Trial
Learn More
Elementary Mock Trial is an excellent way to begin to introduce the concepts of justice, and the judicial process through fairy tale based trials.
Quick Start: FAQs
Mock Trial is a pretend case performed by middle school or high school students playing roles of witnesses and attorneys.
A team has 6 to 16 students but could have more as alternates.
Promote Mock Trial, recruit students, audition students, register a middle school team or register a high school team, obtain administration support, obtain additional coaches, attend a Mock Trial training. New coaches may also coordinate with the State Mock Trial Coordinator to observe a competition.
Set practice schedule, schedule the middle school competition dates or the high school competition dates, and secure a practice room.
Teams should practice at least once a week.
The registration fee is $225, snacks for practices, travel / bus to competitions (if needed), copies of cases if students do not independently print their own copies.
Give students a current or prior Middle School Mock Trial Case or High School Mock Trial Case and have students prepare as attorneys and witnesses.
The Team Registration Form which also includes the Authorization Form, the School Information Sheet, the Code of Ethical Conduct form, and the Team Roster Form.
Payment for the registration fee, permission slips for travel, any club paperwork, bus reservations, teacher substitute paperwork if the teacher needs to travel and/or compete on Friday, etc.
To find an attorney, check with school PTA, team parents, school alumni, local county bar, and then SC Bar.