FAQs
What is Mock Trial?
Mock trial is an intercollegiate team competition where universities compete against one another in simulated trials at various tournaments across the country. Each team is made up of 6-10 members playing either attorneys, witnesses, or both.
Attorneys give speeches, ask witnesses questions, and argue the admissibility of evidence. Witnesses act as characters and give engaging testimony describing the events in question or their expert opinion on such events. Teams are scored on each element of their performance by a panel of judges, and total points are tallied at the end to determine the winner.
Should I join even if I don't want to be a lawyer?
Yes!
Mock trial develops analytical, communication, and acting skills that apply to a variety of organizations and careers. Our members come from across the university, representing a wide range of colleges and majors — from ILR, Public Policy, and English to ORIE, Plant Sciences, and many more.
Check out what some of our alumni have done:
Where does the team travel to for competitions?
All over the country!
As one of the nation's top mock trial programs, we compete at tournaments (invitationals, regionals, ORCS, and the national championship) across the country each year.
Here are just a few of the states we've traveled to for competitions over the past decade:
What is the community like?
Our team is a family.
There’s no better feeling than competing with people you not only enjoy working with but also love to spend time with outside the courtroom.
There are also plenty of mock trial socials throughout the year :)
Do I need experience to try out?
Nope!
No experience is required or expected to try out for our team, and our tryouts don’t require you to apply any previous legal knowledge. Many of our current members had never done mock trial before joining.
Does it cost money to join?
Not a dollar!
Our program is fully funded. There are no membership dues to participate in Mock Trial at Cornell. Even travel and lodging for team competitions are covered by our budget.
Is Mock Trial a big time commitment?
Yes, and no.
There is a baseline expectation of at least 5-8 hours per week, but we love what we do, and it often doesn’t feel like "work."
Don't worry, though — you will still have time for other activities on campus. Many of our current members are also involved in academic research, Greek life, and pre-professional fraternities, and more.
