Mock Trial – Classroom Law Project

The mock trial has proven to be an effective learning tool for students of all grade levels. It helps them understand the law, practice critical thinking, and gain greater confidence with public speaking by assuming the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a fictional criminal or civil trial.

Participants experience first-hand the difficulties that judges, lawyers and juries face in determining which facts are relevant and what legal arguments are effective.

See below for more information about:

High School Competition
Project Citizen & Mock Trial Workshop (LaGrande) Registration Open
Mock Trial Workshop (June 21-22) Registration Open
Volunteer to Judge Mock Trial!
Metro Mini Mock Trial
Mentor Program
Non-Competitive
Mock Trial Cases
Mock Trial Manual
Mock Trial for Middle Sch. Workshop Handouts available
DVDs For Sale

High School Competition

Each year, more than 70 teams, totaling some 1,200 students, compete at regional, state and national levels — with support from more than 500 attorneys, educators and other community representatives acting as coaches, judges and coordinators.

Click here to learn more!

Metro Mini Mock Trial

Each fall, 30 teams of students from Portland area high schools will assume the roles of attorneys and witnesses to argue a criminal case before almost 70 attorneys, judges, educators and law students at the Multnomah County Courthouse.

This event is intended to give students new to the mock trial program an opportunity to gain experience, provide returning students a chance to try out new roles and skills, and allow Portland area high schools a chance to start a team.

The 2012 Mini Mock Trial will be held on December 14 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.. Participation is FREE, but registration is required.

The 2012 case is State v. Campbell, a criminal case where the bullying victim is charge with planting a bomb at school. Click on the links below to download the 2012 case.
State v. Campbell, PART I
State v. Campbell, PART II

Team registration is now closed. We have reached our full capacity.

Mock Trial Workshop — It’s Fun!

Professional Development for Teachers Grades 3-12

Dates & Time:
Friday, June 21; noon-5:00pm
Saturday, June 22; 9:00am-4:00pm

Elementary through high school teachers will benefit from this fun and information-packed workshop. It kicks off with watching real middle schoolers put on a mock trial in a real courtroom in front of a real judge. Really. Afterward we will meet with the judge to discuss the trial we saw and mock trials generally. The judge will also offer a Court System 101 review to help us all get on the same page. Court will then adjourn.

Saturday morning we will reconvene at the gorgeous campus of Lewis & Clark Law School. Its lush, green setting in southwest Portland’s Tryon Creek State Park underscores that it is, in fact, summer. Veteran teachers will offer tried and true strategies for different grade levels. Grade level breakouts will allow teachers to focus on individual needs.

Location:

Friday: Multnomah Circuit Court, 1021 SW Fourth Ave., Portland, OR 97204
Saturday: Lewis & Clark Law School, 10015 SW Terwilliger Blvd., Portland, OR 97219

Who:
Teachers of third grade through high school.
Not only social studies teachers but language arts and science teachers, too!

Includes:

all materials
PDUs
lunch Friday
continental breakfast and lunch Saturday

Cost:
$50 non-refundable registration fee (advance payment required
to guarantee seat)

Travel Assist:
Do not let distance stand in your way!
$50 stipend when traveling at least 150 miles roundtrip
up to $100 for documented hotel expense when traveling at least 150 miles roundtrip.

Why mock trial:
Its connection with the Common Core is strong. Students practice
necessary critical analysis skills (viewing an issue from multiple views, for example) while advancing content (U.S. judicial system, science concepts via trials with science themes) and practicing necessary literacy (reading, writing, persuasive writing and speaking, etc.). Mock trial works because it engages students on many levels and it is fun!

~because space is limited, early registration is encouraged~

Fill out my online form.

Mock Trial Workshop for Middle School Teachers

Classroom Law Project presents a mock trial workshop for middle school teachers on March 18 and 19, 2013, 4pm-6pm. Susie Marcus, consultant extraordinaire, with CLP staff will train teachers using the most recent Mock Trial case, State v. Durden. The case involves death by excessive drinking of water.

Download the workshop flyer.

Non-Competitive

Just interested in putting on a mock trial with your class or community group without the commitment of the competition? Check out the extensive mock trial collection available for download on our Resource page.

Mock Trial Cases

2013 – State v. Durden: Part 1 | Part 2
The case involved death by excessive drinking of water. Could it be criminal?

2012 – Lee Cavanaugh v. Cup of Joe: View the case
The case involves a civil dispute when hot coffee purchased from a local shop burns a customer. Was the coffee too hot to handle?

2011 – State v. Freeman: Part 1 | Part 2
Frost is dead. She was a partner in a restaurant and was found frozen in the restaurant’s cooler. There was a history of gambling problems and outstanding loans. Was it murder or just bad luck?

2010 – State v. Lane: Part 1 | Part 2
A criminal case where the defendant, a rap artist, is charged with inciting a riot and arson.

2009 – Simon v. Swift and Eastside High School: Part 1 | Part 2
A civil case where the deceased was a student-athlete who had used steriods.

2008 – State v. Campbell: Part 1 | Part 2
A criminal case where the bullying victim is charged with planting a bomb at school.

2007 – Johnson v. Brewster, Miller, and WASP: Part 1 | Part 2
A wrongful death action against not only the convicted wrongdoer, but the person and organization inciting hate.

2006 – State v. Kendall: Part 1 | Part 2
The case of fast cars in Caneville.

2005 – Parker et al v. Paradise County SD: Part 1 | Part 2
The case of the hazardous homework.

2004 – State v. Martin: Part 1 | Part 2
A criminal case where a student is charged with murder after a high school rock climber is found dead at the base of a cliff.

The People v. Andrew Jackson: Case | Teaching Notes
Historical mock trial for grades 8-12.

Mock Trial Manual

Step by step instructions, lesson plans, and supplementary resources: Manual | Handouts | Appendix

Volunteer to Judge Mock Trial!

Join Classroom Law Project in March 2014 at a courthouse near you for regionals or at the Hatfield Federal Courthouse in downtown Portland for state finals. See students make their case with passion and poise. Each year, more than 70 high school teams, totaling some 1,200 students, compete in mock trials at the regional, state and national levels.

This unforgettable experience for students depends on the participation of hundreds of educators, attorneys, and other community representatives who serve as judges at the competition.

If you are interested in being a part of this great event, fill out our volunteer form and we will contact you when the registration form is available.

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