Kit & Case Materials - YMCA of Greater Seattle

during first semester class then organize into an
extracurricular club until the season is over. A few recruit and
select mock trial members from their classes and hit the case
really hard in January through Districts in February. This plan
would be difficult for a new or inexperienced team.
When does the
mock trial season
start and end
How much time
does it take to
prepare a team
for mock trial
How does a team
get an attorney
to help out
The year’s case is available in October, on the date set by the
Mock Trial Program Chair. Districts occur mid to late
February. State is usually the last weekend of March.
Nationals are held at the beginning of May in a different city
each year. The competition season fits into the winter sports
season and ends before spring vacation. The District
Convener determines the district competition date in
February. State Finals are often held the same weekend as
State Knowledge Bowl but usually don’t conflict with Debate
events. Many teams spend the fall learning legal terminology
and trial techniques. During this time, many practice on other
mock trial cases and may organize informal competitions with
nearby schools.
For extracurricular arrangements, most teams will meet one
to three times a week from October through January. Usually
teams meet 3–5 times a week during February to prepare for
Districts. Attorney coach time commitments vary. In February
and March they may spend up to several sessions a week
preparing for District and State competitions. A session may
be one-half hour to four hours long during lunch, class,
before or after school. When offered through a first semester
class, students have the benefit of more frequent instruction
depending on other curriculum demands. For classroom
situations, extra time will be required outside of class in
February and March. Students often spend some vacations
learning their parts.
Many teams will recruit a parent who practices law to
volunteer. You can call or e-mail your District Convener for
suggestions. This is the organizer for your region – often a
judge or a member of the legal community. The Mock Trial
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