Competitive Mock Trial
9th-12th Grade Class offered Tuesdays, 8:15-10:30AM:
Competitive Mock Trial teaches students to 'think like a lawyer' while also exposing them to the wide range of law-related careers. Students will read and analyze a specific court case, perform mock trials, take direction from actual attorneys from our community, and try a case before judges and attorneys. Students should be prepared to make regular speeches and oral arguments in front of classmates. Students will learn criminal law, legal process, rights and responsibilities and the justice process. Students must also be available for additional arranged practices, as well as possible competition in the county finals and the state competitions which are on weekends.
Fall Semester*, Elective Course:
Content Covered/Course Learning Targets:
Fundamentals of Law:
A. Students will be able to define Law.
B. Students will be able to differentiate between different types of law.
C. Students will be able to explain why society has laws
D. Students will be able to give general purpose for criminal and civil law
Settling Disputes:
A. Students will be able to give examples of conflict resolution techniques.
B. Students will be able to explain examples for solving disputes between two or more parties.
Court System
A. Students will be able to understand the court proceedings and process in the following court systems:
1. Trial Court
2. Appeals Courts
3. Federal and State Court Systems
4. Supreme Court of the United States
5. International Court
Lawyers
A. Students will be able to identify all trail procedures.
B. Students will be able to know objections – be able to verbalize these in a court setting at the appropriate
moment.
C. Students will be able to draw questions – conclusions – and use higher level thinking strategies in
relevance to the assigned court case – and be able to verbalize them in a trial.
D. Students must be able to do one or all of the following attorney tasks: Opening / Direct Examination /
Cross Examination / Closing.
Bailiff‐Clerk
A. Students will be able to verbalize and demonstrate the skills of each position relative to a trial.
Witnesses:
A. Students will be able to act “in‐character” of the assigned role in the trial.
B. Students will be able to memorize all pertinent information in their affidavit.
C. Students will be able to have a good rapport with the their attorneys.
D. Students must know trial procedures.
Criminal Justice Process
A. Students will be able to explain the Miranda Rights process
B. Students will be able to describe the criminal trail procedure in local and state courts.
Students evaluated on the following:
B = 80-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
F = Below 60%
Un-negotiated late work will be evaluated and scored, but will not receive an A. Missing deadlines that affect other team members has a negative impact on the team and is not appropriate in any professional environment. If you have a legitimate reason for missing a deadline, please see me ahead of time to discuss how we can minimize the impact to your team.
Basic Rules (All Respect-Based):
1. Respect the Teacher- appropriate interaction: ex. always ask for permission
2. Respect Your Classroom- clean up after yourself, no damage or destruction: ex. Vandalism
3. Respect Your Classmate- appropriate interaction; ex. communicate in a kind manner, Do not interfere with the learning process of other students.
4. Respect Yourself- come prepared to learn; ex. have materials ready at the beginning of class
Additional Guidelines:
At the class starting time, be seated, have your notebook, casebook, writing tool and paper (or laptop) out and ready to go.
Required Materials:
- Semester Class Cost $425
- Additional out-of-pocket fee is estimated to range from $77-$163 dollars. The fee pays for the league registration and the cost of any required exhibits. The cost will be divided per student and therefore is dependent on number of students enrolling. Please note that charter funding usually doesn’t cover league fees.
- Class size 8-17 (additional students may be considered as alternates or team manager)
Competitive Mock Trial teaches students to 'think like a lawyer' while also exposing them to the wide range of law-related careers. Students will read and analyze a specific court case, perform mock trials, take direction from actual attorneys from our community, and try a case before judges and attorneys. Students should be prepared to make regular speeches and oral arguments in front of classmates. Students will learn criminal law, legal process, rights and responsibilities and the justice process. Students must also be available for additional arranged practices, as well as possible competition in the county finals and the state competitions which are on weekends.
Fall Semester*, Elective Course:
- Meets weekly
- Class officially begins the first week in September (a prior meeting will be arranged)
- Class meets until approximately mid-December (one additional class will be scheduled after the competitive season ends, exact dates to be announced once the league competition schedule is posted)
- There will also be approximately 20 hours arranged for additional practice.
- Please note that the county winners will qualify to attend the second semester state competition. In the event of a county win, class meetings would continue until the state competition is over and there would be a second semester enrollment fee.
Content Covered/Course Learning Targets:
Fundamentals of Law:
A. Students will be able to define Law.
B. Students will be able to differentiate between different types of law.
C. Students will be able to explain why society has laws
D. Students will be able to give general purpose for criminal and civil law
Settling Disputes:
A. Students will be able to give examples of conflict resolution techniques.
B. Students will be able to explain examples for solving disputes between two or more parties.
Court System
A. Students will be able to understand the court proceedings and process in the following court systems:
1. Trial Court
2. Appeals Courts
3. Federal and State Court Systems
4. Supreme Court of the United States
5. International Court
Lawyers
A. Students will be able to identify all trail procedures.
B. Students will be able to know objections – be able to verbalize these in a court setting at the appropriate
moment.
C. Students will be able to draw questions – conclusions – and use higher level thinking strategies in
relevance to the assigned court case – and be able to verbalize them in a trial.
D. Students must be able to do one or all of the following attorney tasks: Opening / Direct Examination /
Cross Examination / Closing.
Bailiff‐Clerk
A. Students will be able to verbalize and demonstrate the skills of each position relative to a trial.
Witnesses:
A. Students will be able to act “in‐character” of the assigned role in the trial.
B. Students will be able to memorize all pertinent information in their affidavit.
C. Students will be able to have a good rapport with the their attorneys.
D. Students must know trial procedures.
Criminal Justice Process
A. Students will be able to explain the Miranda Rights process
B. Students will be able to describe the criminal trail procedure in local and state courts.
Students evaluated on the following:
- Individual growth as a speaker (student listens when coached and quickly follows directions; practices outside of class so that subsequent coaching sessions indicate notable progress)
- Participation (student discusses ideas during brainstorming sessions; asks questions for clarity and to test understanding)
- Studies relevant material and demonstrates knowledge
- Writing and memorization assignments completed in a timely manner
- Performance in competition
- Teamwork (dedication to working through challenges; encouraging to others; does not disrupt or derail team efforts)
- Grades will be awarded based on the following percentages:
B = 80-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
F = Below 60%
Un-negotiated late work will be evaluated and scored, but will not receive an A. Missing deadlines that affect other team members has a negative impact on the team and is not appropriate in any professional environment. If you have a legitimate reason for missing a deadline, please see me ahead of time to discuss how we can minimize the impact to your team.
Basic Rules (All Respect-Based):
1. Respect the Teacher- appropriate interaction: ex. always ask for permission
2. Respect Your Classroom- clean up after yourself, no damage or destruction: ex. Vandalism
3. Respect Your Classmate- appropriate interaction; ex. communicate in a kind manner, Do not interfere with the learning process of other students.
4. Respect Yourself- come prepared to learn; ex. have materials ready at the beginning of class
Additional Guidelines:
At the class starting time, be seated, have your notebook, casebook, writing tool and paper (or laptop) out and ready to go.
Required Materials:
- Textbook: No published textbook but there will be case material that you will need to download and print.
- A Plain BLACK, 2-inch, three ring binder for this class only (all binders will be identical in color and size to present a united, professional team appearance during competition)
- 2 sets of notebook dividers labeled appropriately.
- Loose leaf notebook paper---NO SPIRAL-RINGED NOTEBOOK PAPER, please!
- Pencils, Pens and Highlighter
- Thumb drive for team sharing files
- Laptop Computer: not absolutely required but HIGHLY recommended---There will be much composition done in class and it saves time if students don’t have to go home and type it up later. We will not have or need internet access but a laptop will also be very helpful to electronically search the case material when it is downloaded on a laptop.