Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is mock trial?
College mock trial is an academic competition where students simulate real courtroom trials by acting as attorneys and witnesses to argue fictional legal cases. It's public speaking and critical thinking, acting as different characters, and delivering arguments before judges. Think of it as Suits meets your favorite Broadway play!
Q: Is this useful for if I want to go to law school?
Absolutely! We try cases involving a variety of crimes and civil suits. Past cases have dealt with murder, manslaughter, robbery, wire fraud, the slayer statute, negligence, arson, election fraud, medical malpractice, and many more! A huge part of mock trial is also court procedure and rules of evidence. It sets you up in an advanced position going into law school! Our alumni have gone on to study at law schools such as UGA, GSU, and Mercer.
*But even if you don't plan to attend law school, mock trial may still be for you. At its core, it's a fun, competive activity filled with the best people!
Q: What does competition season look like?
GSUMT competes in trials based off of cases created by the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA). In the fall we compete at invitational tournaments hosted by other universities. In the spring we compete at AMTA's regional tournaments, then Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS), and then the National Championship Tournament!
Mock trial is different than activities like Model UN and debate because it is the only undergraduate activity directly involving trial advocacy. Our members affectionately call it LARPing law: there is no better place at GSU if you want to practice your public speaking, acting, and ability to think on your feet!
Q: How is mock trial different than other extracurriculars?
Being a Member
Q: How are teams structured?
GSUMT sends 3-4 teams to compete in various tournaments throughout the semester. There are 7-10 members in each team, led by a pair of student co-captains. Our coaches, with input from captains and the executive board, handle the stacking of each team.
There are 3 attorney roles and 3 witness roles on each side of the case (defense and plaintiff/prosecution). Members on each team are assigned 1-2 roles depending on the number of members in the team and the number of roles available.
Q: What is the time commitment?
Practices: Members are required to attend practice every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30-8:00 PM. During these practices, members meet to plan and run content in preparation for upcoming tournaments.
Tournaments: Each member will compete in tournaments during the semester. These tournaments typically fall on weekends, and members will be informed of the specific dates near the beginning of the semester. Excuse letters from the coaches of the program will be available as needed.
Scrimmages: We also schedule scrimmages (practice matches) throughout the year, both internally and with other schools. Most scrimmages will be scheduled during practice times, and members will be notified in advance of specific dates.
On top of these explicit time commitments, GSUMT members will also be encouraged to study and learn the case material and rules of evidence on their own time. Our members' outstanding commitment to the team over the years has directly translated into our breakthrough success!
Q: How much are dues?
Estimated to be around $50 per semester. We fundraise a lot, but travel is still quite expensive! If you or anyone you know would be interested in donating to the team, click here!
Joining the Team
Q: How do I join?
Tryouts are hosted at the beginning of each fall semester. Come to one of our interest meetings, either online or in person, then try out for our team! Follow our Instagram to stay updated.
Q: What do tryouts look like?
Our tryout process is pretty straightforward: we give you a small excerpt of the case from the current year and ask you to form an argument based off of that and deliver it in front of a table of our coaches and some of our executive board. In these tryouts we're just looking for speaking skills and commitment to the program.
Q: What if I don't have any mock trial experience?
Mock Trial is not just for pre-law students; it's for anyone looking to gain a meaningful experience in college. If you love to argue, have any experience in public speaking, are a recovering theater kid, or are just looking for a good time, then Georgia State Mock Trial could be for you!