The Oklahoma High School Mock Trial Program affords an excellent opportunity to be involved in a rewarding and fun learning experience for our young people. This can only happen with hundreds of attorney volunteers assisting. Email Mock Trial Coordinator Judy Spencer at MTjudy02l@aol.com or call her at 405-833-8757 for more information or to get involved today!

Lawyers and judges can volunteer in one or more of the following capacities:

Attorney Coach | flexible time commitment for two months

An attorney works directly with the teacher coach and students of a high school mock trial team. The attorney offers clarification of the legal matters of the case, strategies for presentation and use of evidentiary material, general insight into the legal issues involved and courtroom procedure. This position offers the most direct involvement with the students in preparing them for competition. The time commitment varies from 1 or 2 hours a week for two months to a much greater amount of time depending on the availability of all those involved. Practices are usually after school, in the evenings or on weekends depending on the attorney’s schedule and workload. Undoubtedly, attorney coaches are afforded the most rewarding and long-lasting relationships with high school students, who describe their participation in this program as life changing.

Presiding Judge | 3- to 4-hour time commitment

During the competition the presiding judge acts as the voice of the panel, controls the conduct of the courtroom and trial participants, and supervises the time constraints imposed by the rules of competition. The presiding judge rules on motions and objections based on the simplified federal rules of evidence. The presiding judge does not announce a verdict on the legal merits of the case, but in all other respects conducts the trial as if it were a real trial.

Scoring Panelist | 3- to 4-hour time commitment

Two to three attorneys comprise the scoring panel. The score is based on presentation and NOT on the legal merits of the team's case. However, substance of the presentation is important. "Aperformance rating form" is completed awarding a numerical evaluation on each participant along with a scoring panelist comment sheet.

Trial Site Coordinators | Previous Mock Trial experience preferred

These individuals secure volunteers for each round of their competition date and are available at the trial site for the entire trial date. They receive a package of all necessary materials for their volunteers and distribute them before the competition. They receive detailed guidelines for trial site coordinators along with a timeline for tasks leading up to the day of competition and a detailed schedule for the day of the event. They act as the contact for the assigned schools and are responsible for getting the competition results to the mock trial coordinator at the conclusion of the day of competition. This an extremely important position for the success of the competition.

Other Opportunities

• Serving on the YLD Mock Trial Committee
• Helping with skills clinics held at the beginning of each season
• Helping prepare the state championship team during the month of April for national competition in May