What is Mock Trial?
Mock trial competition is about simulating a trial that takes place in a real court in a competitive manner. It aims at providing the participating students an opportunity to learn about the legal system, and how the trials actually work. As its name suggests, a lot of components of mock trial are identical to those of real trials. The same level of code of conduct required in a real court is also required for every participant of the mock trial competition.
Participants may either choose to be a witness or an attorney for each round. There are 2 witnesses and 2 attorneys for each round.
Witnesses will be responsible for acting as a character involved in the case. Witness' job in the trial is to give answers to direct examinations and cross examinations while remaining in the character of the witness that you are playing. To be a good witness, you will not only have to show good acting that matches the character you chose to play, but also will have to give logical, appropriate answers that respond clearly to the direct/cross examination questions given by the attorney and effectively defend yourself.
Attorneys conduct direct/cross examination on witnesses and give opening/closing speeches. It is an attorney's job to ask good questions to your witness in direct examination so that the following answers from your witness effectively bolster your team's case. Cross examination is one of the most crucial, and probably the most challenging job of an attorney. To be a good attorney, you should try to come up with the best possible cross-examination questions that can bring down the credibility of your opposing team's witnesses. Raising high-quality objections is also important, as they play an equally important role in undermining the opposing team's case.
Following is the order of procedure for each round;
Plaintiff/Prosecution(P/P) Opening Speech - Defense(D) Opening Speech - Direct Examination for P/P witness #1 - Cross Examination for P/P witness #1 - Direct Examination for P/P witness #2 - Cross Examination for P/P witness #2 - Direct Examination for D witness #1 - Cross Examination for D witness #1 - Direct Examination for D witness #2 - Cross Examination for D witness #2 - Defense Closing Argument - Plaintiff/Prosecution Closing Argument
ROLE DIVISION
Prosecution Attorneys
Defense Attorneys
Attorney 1
(Prosecution Opening Statement)
Attorney 2
(Prosecution Closing Statement)
Attorney 1
(Defense Opening Statement)
Attorney 2
(Defense Closing Statement)
Prosecution Witnesses
Defense Witnesses
Prosecution Witness 1
Prosecution Witness 2
Defense Witness 1
Defense Witness 2
Participants may either choose to be a witness or an attorney for each round. There are 2 witnesses and 2 attorneys for each round.
Witnesses will be responsible for acting as a character involved in the case. Witness' job in the trial is to give answers to direct examinations and cross examinations while remaining in the character of the witness that you are playing. To be a good witness, you will not only have to show good acting that matches the character you chose to play, but also will have to give logical, appropriate answers that respond clearly to the direct/cross examination questions given by the attorney and effectively defend yourself.
Attorneys conduct direct/cross examination on witnesses and give opening/closing speeches. It is an attorney's job to ask good questions to your witness in direct examination so that the following answers from your witness effectively bolster your team's case. Cross examination is one of the most crucial, and probably the most challenging job of an attorney. To be a good attorney, you should try to come up with the best possible cross-examination questions that can bring down the credibility of your opposing team's witnesses. Raising high-quality objections is also important, as they play an equally important role in undermining the opposing team's case.
Following is the order of procedure for each round;
Plaintiff/Prosecution(P/P) Opening Speech - Defense(D) Opening Speech - Direct Examination for P/P witness #1 - Cross Examination for P/P witness #1 - Direct Examination for P/P witness #2 - Cross Examination for P/P witness #2 - Direct Examination for D witness #1 - Cross Examination for D witness #1 - Direct Examination for D witness #2 - Cross Examination for D witness #2 - Defense Closing Argument - Plaintiff/Prosecution Closing Argument
ROLE DIVISION
Prosecution Attorneys
Defense Attorneys
Attorney 1
(Prosecution Opening Statement)
Attorney 2
(Prosecution Closing Statement)
Attorney 1
(Defense Opening Statement)
Attorney 2
(Defense Closing Statement)
Prosecution Witnesses
Defense Witnesses
Prosecution Witness 1
Prosecution Witness 2
Defense Witness 1
Defense Witness 2