Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is Mock Trial?
Mock Trial is a competitive, team-based activity in which schools compete against each other in structured trials. Competitors play the roles of either attorneys or witnesses throughout the course of trials. We compete in the context of a new case released every year by AMTA, the American Mock Trial Association. When we compete at tournaments, we alternate between acting as the defense and the prosecution/plaintiff each round.
Case? Tell me more.
We compete against other teams with civil or criminal trial cases created by AMTA. There’s a lot to learn, especially at the start of the year! Learning the roles and information of your witness, the team’s legal strategy and the format of the activity all take time. This past year, we worked on the civil case Felder v. Koller Campbell Air, LLC. This year, we will be working with… TBD!
What are the time obligations?
Being part of a successful, driven, and competitive team demands a large commitment from all of its members. We hold two scheduled 2-hour practices a week, one on weekends and one during the week. In addition to scheduled practices, team members are expected to spend several hours per week working individually or in pairs on case material such as opening and closing statements, direct and cross examinations, rules of evidence, case law, facts of the case, trial format and procedure, and more. We travel to compete in 5-7 tournaments throughout the year across the East coast and Midwest. These tournaments last the entire weekend, and will require complete devotion during these times. Finally, Pitt hosts a high school mock trial tournament every January, and team members are expected to devote their weekend towards helping to run it. It is a full year commitment.
It may sound like a lot, but it is manageable. Pretty much every member of PMT is also involved in many other activities, as well as being star students.
Do I need Mock Trial experience to join? Is it only for Pre-Law students?
No! While some of our team members participated in mock trial in the past, there is no need to have prior experience to try out. At the beginning of the season we go over all the components of how college mock trial works and will answer any questions you may have as the season progress.
Mock Trial is Absolutely not reserved for pre-law students only. While this activity helps you to learn lots of practical legal knowledge and develop important skills in that career path, students with any major and future plans are welcome. Some of our best witnesses are theater students – after all, Mock Trial is theater in the backdrop of a courtroom. Some of the best members in PMT’s history have majored in engineering or CS as much as Political Science or History
How are competitions structured? What do I wear?
The tournaments we compete in take place on weekends and are broken down into 4 rounds of competition, usually with two on each day.
Mock Trial is centered around scoring each competitor rather than arriving at a verdict of guilty or not guilty. Two judges will sit in each round, and they each score competitors for everything they do. As a witness, you receive scores out of 10 for your testimony in direct examination as well as in your cross examination. As an attorney, you will receive a score out of 10 for your performance in conducting one direct examination and one cross examination; if you are delivering the opening or closing statement for your side, you will also receive a score out of 10 for that. At the end of each round, the judges will add together the scores awarded to members of each team, and the team that wins the round is the team whose sum score of performances is higher. When we say that every single team member must be committed and prepared, this is what we mean; the outcome of rounds often comes down to the performances given by individuals.
There is no dress code for practices, but for competitions you are expected to wear formal business attire. For women this can be dress pants or a pencil skirt with a formal top and blazer. Dress shoes or a small heel are appropriate. Courtroom attire should not be revealing or distracting (nothing too short or bright…accessories and makeup should be subtle). For men, a suit with a dress shirt, dress shoes, and an appropriate tie will suffice. However, witnesses in character won’t always dress so plainly!
What is it like to be an attorney or a witness?
As an attorney, you are part of a 3-person legal team, either on the prosecution/plaintiff or defense. In every trial, each attorney will conduct a direct examination of a witness from our team and cross examine a witness from the competing team.
As a witness, you must familiarize yourself with the affidavit and accompanying exhibits for the character created by AMTA. You’ll testify in a direct examination conducted by an attorney on your team, and then you’ll face cross examination from an opposing attorney.