Scholar Clubs

At Paradigm, we do our school clubs a little differently. Every year our clubs change depending on our scholar’s interests. Like our education, our clubs are scholar-led, meaning that if one of our scholars has an interest in something they can then create a club about it!

Clubs will be approved based on how the club fulfills the mission of the school. All activities sponsored by the club must be in keeping with the School Values.

All school clubs may only be formed on the basis of a school-oriented activity: for example, chess club, a sports club, or a journalist club. No clubs are formed on the basis of personal or social issues such as political affiliation, religious affiliation, or sexual orientation. (Please see the School Policy Handbook for additional information)

Scholars may apply to create a club during the first two weeks of the school year. Club applications can be obtained and returned to the main office.

What is Mock Trial Club?

Our Mock Trail Club is the only club at Paradigm that comes back every year. 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!

Do we do Competitions?

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:

• • Opening Statements
  • Direct and Redirect Examination
  • Cross and Recross Examination
  • Pre-Closing Preparation
  • Closing Arguments
  • Rebuttal

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.

Are There Club Expectations?

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:

• • • Attend Meetings: Mock trial club does require some out-of-school involvement. We hold weekly meetings starting at about an hour a week. However, when the competition season starts, we then start meeting two to four hours a week. We expect you to be at the meetings to be able to prepare and rehearse your role.
    • Put in the Work: Mock trial club isn’t a club you can fly through with ease. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Typically, students who join are enthusiastic about mock trial and want to do a great job. If you’re willing to put in the work, you’ll have a great club experience!
    • Have a Good Attitude: As mentioned above, students who join mock trial represent Paradigm. That is why we expect students to uphold our values when competing. We expect students to be gracious winners and accept defeats with pride. Overall, we expect students to have a good attitude.

Why Should You Join Our Mock Trial Club?

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.

Come Be Apart of the Team!

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.