While some consider the legal field as difficult to hold a profession in, a small group of high school students are diving headfirst into the courtroom—mastering new skills and gaining experience in mock legal proceedings. After more than a four year absence, the PV Mock Trial Team was reformed in early September to help students learn about the legal process and is now recruiting new members.
The National High School Mock Trial competition is hosted each year in early May, and each state holds their own state qualifying competitions. In Iowa, the competition is sponsored by the Iowa Bar Association, which helps connect high school teams with real attorneys to bolster interest in legal professions.
The club offers a variety of situations during the trials. “Students have the opportunity to act as both witnesses and attorneys, and so far our participants are having lots of fun. Now we are just looking for new people to join,” said senior Andres Bravo, who is part of the club’s leadership.
Other members cite the club as a source of inspiration. “Mock trials are a great way to meet and hear from legal professionals. When I attended my previous school, our Mock Trial team was a deciding factor in my career aspirations,” expressed junior Asmita Bag, the team’s president.
The team plans to compete at the regional, state and national level this school year and has already started preparing for competition by rehearsing opening and closing statements, practicing with logic and reasoning and keeping proper documentation of courtroom proceedings. They initiated their preparation by reaching out to the Scott County district attorney’s office, followed by the Iowa Bar Association to be paired with a licensed attorney.
Students showed interest in the club’s pairing system. “I’m very excited to meet someone who actually works in the legal profession. I think it’s one thing for clubs to do mock trials and study content related to legal issues, but getting a professional involved will definitely be an invaluable experience,” remarked junior Brenna France.
Not only does the club help students learn about the legal process, it can help open doors to careers in the courtroom. In the past, the junior high has offered opportunities for the Mock Trial team via a previous lawyer, but the club hasn’t been present in the high school for quite some time. This new group of students aims to change that, providing students a space to practice critical thinking skills, public speaking and teamwork— essential skills to any career, not just law. Looking forward, the Mock Trial team’s members are ready to succeed as leaders in their school, community and future legal professions.
