My Mock Trial students are incredibly diverse both socio-economically, racially and ethnically. Despite those differences, mock trial students come together to collaborate and perform at an extremely high level. Students who participate in Mock Trial must think critically and collaborate in a challenging and demanding environment.
It is an experience that is not available in otherwise challenging academic courses, and often forges meaningful lifelong friendships.
Through performance-based education, the program furthers an understanding of both the content and processes of our legal system. It requires advanced analytic ability and allows students to develop the fluency and confidence to speak publicly in real courtrooms to real attorneys and real judges. The skills that mock trailers develop are truly elite and are fundamental to success in and out of the courtroom.
My Project
My students need binders and legal pads, the requirement for any good lawyer going into trial. My Mock Trial students are incredibly diverse both socio-economically, racially and ethnically. Despite those differences, my students come together to collaborate and perform at an extremely high level.
Students who participate in Mock Trial must think critically and collaborate in a challenging and demanding environment.
It is an experience that is not available in otherwise challenging academic courses, and often forges meaningful lifelong friendships. Through performance-based education, the program furthers an understanding of both the content and processes of our legal system; increases public-speaking skills, analytical ability, self-confidence, and promotes cooperation among students of various cultures and interests. Students' basic skills, critical thinking skills, presentations skills, and confidence will increase.
My students put on trials with witnesses, lawyers, bailiffs, court clerks; the whole deal. The judges are actual California Superior Court Judges. The case is often based on real events that students all over the state of California use to conduct their own trials.
Everyone Starts at the Same Place. Everyone gets the case packet (evidence, witness statements, rules, etc.) on the same day, and everyone gets to start practicing on the same day. It is a wonderful exhibition of what high school students are capable of with the right resources, encouragement, and commitment. Help us make their experience as authentic as possible. Please contribute to help us get trial binders and legal pads, so our attorneys go into the courtroom with the resources they need to compete (and look the part).
More than a third of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Springman and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
