Mock Trial Guide

Mock Trial

Mock Trial Guide
By Cynthia Kirkeby
May 4, 2009, 3:43pm

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This excellent mock trial guide is a must-have for all mock trial participants. Created by the American Bar Association, this guide explores the objectives of mock trials, the various types of mock trials, how to prepare for a mock trial, the rules of evidence, helpful hints, selecting judges, and so much more that we can't even list it all here.

Why have mock trials become so popular in recent years? In the introduction to this guide, the ABA had this answer:
"Part of the mock trial’s appeal lies in the fun involved in preparing for and participating in the simulated trial. Who doesn’t want to become—if only for a brief time—a member of The Practice, a zealous prosecutor, a distinguished judge, or the aggrieved plaintiff demanding justice? While television’s depiction of trials often distorts the reality of legal procedures, the courtroom dramas that come into our homes several times each week surely heighten the mock trial experience for students."

So take a look through this excellent guide and then browse through the other resources that we've assembled to help you make the most out of your mock trial experience. Check the Mock Trial section periodically, because we add resources on a regular basis. IF you have a resource that you'd like to let us know about, please drop us a note at info@classbrain.com

The following sample mock trials are included in the Mock Trial Guide: (Adobe Acrobat Required)

Elementary School Mock Trial—Big Bad Wolf v. Curly Pig
Trial Based on Literature—Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Grades 5–9)
Middle School Trial (Grades 6–8)
Mediation and the Adversary Process (Grades 5–8; 9–12)
Small Claims Mock Hearings (Secondary)
State v. Randall (Secondary)
Historical Mock Trial—The Case of Galileo Galilei (Secondary)
In the Matter of Toni Radcliffe (Secondary)

Download the Mock Trial Guide in PDF Format (Adobe Acrobat Required)
Source: American Bar Association

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