Mock Trials Mock trials are tremendously popular with students, teach them a great deal—and are a lot of fun and satisfaction for volunteers. Resources A guide to Putting on Mock Trials (.pdf) is now available online. It gives you information on types of trials, how to conduct a trial, mock trial competitions, steps in a trial and simplified rules of evidence, and seven sample mock trials at both the elementary and secondary levels. [The file linked above is a .pdf and you will need Adobe's free Acrobat Reader to view it. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader.] In addition, mock trials for elementary and secondary students are available for purchase through our Mock Trial Store. The National High School Mock Trial Championship website at www.nationalmocktrial.org lists state contacts in more than 30 states. The 2005 National Mock Trials Championship was held in Charlotte, North Carolina from May 5-7, 2005. Forty-four teams competed over two days. The new national champion is Tamalpais High School, from Mill Valley, California. The National Runner Up is Kauai High School from Lihue on Kauai, Hawaii. The Division for Public Education congratulates the winning teams! The American Mock Trial Association [a.k.a. College Mock Trial] and American Collegiate Moot Court Association are also good sources of information. Program Ideas Below are brief descriptions of how volunteer lawyers and judges have put on mock trials. These will give you ideas on ways of setting up and conducting trials, but do not contain the actual trials themselves. Mock Trial Outreach Program by Essex Vicinage of the New Jersey Superior Court Trial Re-enactment by Fishers Island School, NY Creating Historical Mock Trials A law-firm sponsored mock trial through the Internet A law-firm sponsored elementary mock trial Mock voir dire from the Dallas Young Lawyers and the Dallas Bar Association Court-sponsored mock trial series Mock hearing on a search and seizure matter from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Moot court competition sponsored by the White Plains (NY) Bar Association Ninth grade mock trial by the Sumner County (KS) Bar Association Back to Youth Education Tips Lawyers & Judges | Tips on Volunteering Home