Mock Trial FAQs

Arizona High School Mock Trial is a time-honored tradition, operating for over a quarter of a century. Teams from Arizona have succeeded on the national level, having won the national championship in 1987 and 1997, as well as second place in 1993 and 1996. The Arizona High School Mock Trial Program is a positive academic experience that gives students an opportunity to improve their speaking, writing, reading and analytical skills while learning about the judicial system. As participants, the students play the role of attorneys and witnesses in a fictitious case. The Arizona Bar Foundation is committed to educating the leaders of tomorrow by helping them achieve a higher knowledge of the legal system.

Many teachers have incorporated LRE activities such as mock trials into their classes for many years. They have discovered that the pursuit of legal knowledge has invigorated their careers by bringing a valuable dimension to their classes. Adding a Mock Trial team to the list of the extra-curricular activities offered by your school is an excellent way to reach out to those students who may not participate in an athletic or fine arts program. It will also offer you, as the teacher coach, the opportunity to work with students on a level rarely experienced during a 50 minute class period.

More than 500 students statewide! Each team of six to nine students has an opportunity to participate in several rounds of trials on the regional level. Mock Trial teams have six attorneys and witnesses, up to two alternates, and one timekeeper.

The regional tournaments take place generally the first weekend in March and are coordinated by Regional Coordinators. The trials usually take place in area courtrooms, and teams have the opportunity to argue both sides of the case. Additional students, teachers, coaches or family members are welcome to observe the trials.

Teacher coaches may select their own attorney coaches, or the regional coordinators or the Arizona Bar Foundation will assist in recruiting attorneys to coach teams. Local judges and lawyers also serve to judge the regional trials.   

Visit the Mock Trial website, https://lawforkids.org/programs/mock-trial/tournament-documents, and see Handout "Make the Most of Your Presentation" in the Document Center.

Some years it is a criminal case and some years it is a civil case. You can access this year's case by visiting the Mock Trial website, www.lawforkids.org/mock-trial and navigating to the Document Center. Past years' Mock Trial cases are available from the Foundation upon request.

Visit the Mock Trial website, https://lawforkids.org/programs/mock-trial/tournament-documents, and see Handout "Master the 10 Difficult Things" in the Document Center.

When approached about sponsoring a new Mock Trial team, many potential teacher coaches say to themselves: "I'm not that knowledgeable in the law. I have never had a basic law course. How am I supposed to prepare students to do something I know little about, have never studied, and am insecure in directing?" Successful sponsorship of a Mock Trial team does not require law courses or past experience in the legal field. It requires the standard elements of sacrifice and dedication teachers are used to giving every day, regardless of the major subject area in which they work. By cooperating with their team's attorney coaches, whatever gaps may exist in a teacher's legal knowledge can be breached. If this would be your first year in the competition, use your coach as your "legal tutor." You can't beat the tuition, and the knowledge gained this year will add to your confidence next year!

Visit the mock trial website, https://lawforkids.org/document-center-4/tournament-documents, and see Handout "Teacher-Coach Guidelines" in the Document Center.   

Sixteen teams are invited to attend the Arizona High School Mock Trial State Tournament. The winner of each region is guaranteed a berth at state, with the remaining at-large invitations divided among the regions on a pro rata basis. The State Tournament usually takes place in late March, with the winner representing Arizona at the National High School Mock Trial Competition, held at a different location each year in May.

Visit www.nationalmocktrial.org for more information on the National High School Mock Trial Championship.

Visit the Mock Trial website, https://lawforkids.org/document-center-4/tournament-documents, and see the Suggestions - Student Attorneys and Suggestions - Student Witnesses handouts in the Document Center.

The entry fee is $300 per team. Registration materials can be found at www.lawforkids.org/mock-trial. 

As with all new undertakings, we suggest you take your potential sponsorship of a team step-by-step. The state Mock Trial organizers are available to make your experience a positive one, with great instructional resources and an enthusiastic staff. Participation in this program can be educationally exciting and valuable for you and your students. Therein lies the true success in competition - not whether your team takes a prize in a round or at a competition.