​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Welcome to the Santa Clara County High School Mock Trial Program!

The Santa Clara County Office of Education and the Santa Clara County Bar Association are proud to provide a unique opportunity for high school students to learn what it is like to prepare and present a legal case before the court.

How does High School Mock Trial work?  Teams of nine to twenty five students study a hypothetical case that is provided by the Teach Democracy. Teams conduct legal research and receive individual coaching by their school coach and a volunteer attorney in trial preparation, courtroom protocol, courtroom procedure, analysis and communication.

Preparation begins in the fall and culminates for the County competition in January. The winning team represents Santa Clara County at the state competition.

Students who participate in Mock Trial engage in authentic learning experiences that lead to essential life skills, including, but not limited to:

• the importance of team work and collaboration
  
• oral presentation skills
  
• goal setting
  
• planning
  
• productive argument or persuasion skills
  
• critical thinking skills
  
• the ability to face challenging obstacles with enthusiasm, professionalism and confidence
  

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What is Mock Trial?

In 1980, Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF) introduced the Mock Trial program, which already had a strong following in Los Angeles County, to all the counties in California. The program was created to help students acquire a working knowledge of our judicial system, develop analytical abilities and communication skills, and gain an understanding of their obligations and responsibilities as participating members of our society. 

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Registration: 2024-2025