About Mock Trial

Mock Trial is an activity where undergraduate students take on the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a case and simulate a trial. It is open to everyone, not just Criminal Justice majors. Team members develop skills in critical thinking, writing, presentation, and professionalism.

Each year, over 700 schools register to compete in the American Mock Trial Association’s (AMTA) regional and national tournaments. At these tournaments, students simulate trials against other schools over the course of a weekend. Attorneys and judges volunteer their time to judge these competitions. Based on their scoring, individuals and schools receive awards for their performance. UAB students routinely win individual awards, and the team itself has won regional championships and a national tournament.

The Typical Year

In mid-August of each year, we receive a case packet from AMTA. While there are textbooks that we recommend, this fictional case file is the primary reading material for the mock trial experience. It is critical that the team learns the intricacies of the trial problem, just as a lawyer would need to know the intricacies of his or her case.

After learning, analyzing, and preparing the case with the help of the team coaches, the UAB team splits into squads. Team members assume roles (attorney or witness) during practices and try the case against each other to prepare for competition. Based on those experiences, members vote on their team captains and for who will play each role during competitions. Students who are not voted into competing roles are still invited to participate during practices.

Competitions

After the case has been developed and practiced on both sides (prosecution/plaintiff and defense), the UAB teams travel to compete in tournaments at other various host universities. Usually, a team member should expect to attend two invitational competitions: two in the fall and one in the spring. An invitational competition, while not counting toward UAB’s official record, is a critical stepping stone to prepare the team for the next stage, official AMTA Regional and National Competitions.

A team member should expect to attend one regional, an intermediate national-level competition (called an Opening Round Championship Series), and the National Championship Tournament in mid-April.

Getting Involved

To join, regularly participate in Mock Trial events and sign and adhere to the team contract. CJ333: Trial Advocacy is an optional prerequisite or corequisite. If you have any more questions, attend an information session (check the UAB calendar for dates and times).

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