An important experiential learning component of the Pre-Law Program is the University’s Mock Trial Team, which competes annually along with more than 700 teams from more than 400 institutions from across the U.S. and Canada under the auspices of the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA). There are weekly Mock Trial practices throughout the fall and spring semesters. Since fielding its first team during the 1995-1996 academic year, a UAB team has routinely earned a bid to the National Championship Tournament, which it won in 2006.
The mock trial competitive season spans the fall and spring semesters, requiring team members to travel to invitational competitions, scrimmages, and tournaments in the Fall semester. Those teams earning a bid to a National Championship Tournament compete in St. Paul, Minnesota; Des Moines, Iowa; or Tampa, Florida; each March/April. Students have the option of earning 3 hours of academic credit by enrolling in CJ 333: Trial Advocacy or CJ 334: Justice Advocacy.
Information Sessions
At the beginning of the academic year, the UAB Pre-Law holds information sessions where you can learn more about Mock Trial and have your questions answered. We look forward to hearing from you!
-
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).
Alternatively, you can explore this site or email Brandon Blankenship at
blbjd@uab.edu . -
Distinguish Yourself
The Mock Trial Team is a unique program on UAB’s campus. The team has won numerous tournaments, and team members win individual awards each year. UAB students have the opportunity to stand out from the crowd while still being surrounded by people willing to help you succeed. Local lawyers, judges, and other professionals often visit the team and help judge practice rounds. This is an opportunity to learn from some of the best in the legal community, and team members often use that training to win trophies to take back to UAB and individual awards to take home for themselves. UAB Mock Trial also participates in showcase events on campus and throughout the community. Each year, for example, we participate in the Law Day Debate against Miles College which is hosted by Birmingham School of Law.
Earn Class Credit
While participating on the team can be considered an extracurricular activity, team members can optionally receive class credit. This is excellent for students who enjoy a change from the typical classroom lecture format. Sitting in a classroom taking notes while listening to a professor is the exception in Mock Trial, not the rule. As an optional prerequisite or corequisite, you can register for CJ 333: Trial Advocacy for up to three hours of course credit.
Build Your Body of Work
Whether you end up in the legal field or elsewhere, employers look for skills that you’ve developed that will assist you when you work for them. UAB’s Mock Trial Team will help you develop skills that employers demand: public speaking, working in a team, problem solving, and many others that you cannot always gain in a classroom.
-
If you want to sign up for the Mock Trial Team, all you need to do is to start attending Mock Trial events.
Accessing the Case
Once you start attending team practices and the case is released by the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), you can access the case materials on the AMTA website. You will need a username and password. That username and password is private and only given to AMTA-registered schools, so we ask that you not share it with anyone outside the UAB Mock Trial Team. After you download the case, you can begin reviewing the material.
How we Work
On the first day, you will meet the coaches, squad captains, and returning team members. Then the coaches and captains will give you direction on how to get started. You will have ample opportunity to ask questions and receive assistance.
Will I Compete?
Everyone is invited to participate in the team. Who competes, however, is limited to seven or eight members. These roles are nominated and voted on by the team itself. See the UAB Mock Trial Policies for more details. [Note: You can find the UAB Mock Trial Team policies in the UAB Mock Trial Module located on Canvas in the Pre-Law Program Shell.]
What if I Don't Get a Role?
If you don't get the role you want, you can always work with coaches, and captains, attend workshops, get special training, and try again.