Mock trial is a competition that happens around the United States that simulates a real trial. These trials can be civil or criminal and include plaintiffs, defendants, and witnesses. Once students receive their cases from the organizer, they will then be able to choose their roles and begin preparing for their competition.
Mock trial combines the art of theater with the technical skills of debate. This is a great way to introduce kids to the legal system while improving their public speaking skills. Here at Paradigm, we believe that life is about experiences and if mock trial sounds interesting to you, keep reading to learn more!
When joining mock trial, the biggest thing to look forward to is the competition and the end of the year. Mock trial club starts at the beginning of the year, and we’ll typically have our competitions in February or March.
Each mock trial competition is highly structured and is done similarly to a real trial. The structure will look something like this:
These are considered intense competitions! Although we practice many months in advance, we still expect students to be quick thinkers and improvise when necessary. Mock trials are a lot of hard work, but it is rewarding work and a fun time for our students.
While mock trial is incredibly fun and enjoyable, it is one of the things Paradigm is well-known for. When you join, you are a representative of Paradigm and we expect students to represent our school.
Our club expectations are as follows:
Mock trial is a club that allows you to develop multiple skills at once. By joining mock trial, students will learn how to work on a team, create compelling arguments, and think quickly on their feet. Moreover, mock trial provides hard skills that colleges value and looks great on college applications.
For those who are who still want to participate in mock trial but can’t join the club at the moment, we also offer a class. The mock trial class is an entry by application and we will also conduct a small interview.
Does mock trial sound exciting to you? Then, we encourage you to try it! To join, all we require is for you to try out. If you have any additional questions, reach out to Keith Debono and he’ll lead you in the right direction.
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