Tennessee State High School  Mock Trial Competition

The Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition strives to give students a fuller understanding of the American justice system by allowing them to experience the legal process firsthand. Through role playing as lawyers, witnesses, plaintiffs and defendants, students develop an awareness and appreciation for the mechanism our society has chosen to resolve its disputes.

1st Place Overall: Montgomery Bell Academy

Some students have been known to choose a career in law based on their mock trial experience. The Tennessee High School Mock Trial Competition is organized, hosted and judged by members of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (YLD). As a public service project of the YLD, there is no charge for teams to compete in the state mock trial competition.

Former Mock Trial Committee Chair and Eighth Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Zachary Walden says, “Mock Trial is not only the YLD’s largest public service event, but it’s the largest TBA event. For over 40 years, this event has inspired future generations of lawyers, and I am proud every time I see students passionately competing.”

How It Works

The competition dates back to 1980 when the first high school mock trial was held in Knox County. The following year, in an effort to take the competition statewide, the TBA YLD was asked to host the high school mock trial as a law-related education public service project. Participation has increased from an initial four schools the first year to well over 100 schools today. The state competition is an intense, two-day event in which each team participates in a minimum of four trial rounds. Team rankings are determined by points acquired and rounds won in a “power-match” system. Only teams advancing from their district competition are eligible to participate at the state competition in Nashville.

2024 Mock Trial Committee Chair Ashley Tipton says, “Mock Trial provides high school students with an opportunity to directly experience the legal system. It is amazing to watch students compete after they have spent months poring over the case problem, crafting their arguments and learning the rules of evidence. For many, participation in Mock Trial inspires them to go to law school. I was one of these students, and it is my honor to serve as chair and bring Mock Trial to the next generation.”

This year’s case, which was released to teams in December, is a criminal scenario centered around an evening of pranks and alleged revenge that goes terribly wrong, leading to charges of vandalism, burglary and felony murder. The case and other resources can be accessed at www.tba.org/2024_State_Competition.

YLD President-elect Sean Aiello says, “The caliber of the students we see coming through our statewide competition and the dedication and skill they demonstrate is such that I have no concerns about the quality of lawyers our state will continue to produce for the foreseeable future.”

Volunteer Opportunity

Volunteers are an essential piece to making Mock Trial run smoothly. Judge Walden agrees, saying, “I volunteered at Mock Trial as my first ever TBA event when I was a new lawyer, and I believe this is a great way for new lawyers to get involved in our organization.”

General Sessions Court Judge and YLD Vice-President Alex McVeagh says, “I have had the honor of organizing the local Hamilton County mock trial competition and scoring the state competition for over a decade. I can honestly say that these students’ knowledge of the rules of evidence and their mastery of facts are often superior to that of actual attorneys that I see in my own courtroom.”

Donate

Donations of any amount can always be made to the Mock Trial program. Funds donated to the Mock Trial Fund account will be used to subsidize the cost of attending the state mock trial competition for lower-income or rural schools. You can donate at www.tba.org or make your checks payable to Tennessee Legal Community Foundation and note “Mock Trial Fund” in the memo line. Send checks to Tennessee Bar Association, 3310 West End Ave., Suite 590, Nashville, TN 37203. Donations are tax deductible.

Additionally, the YLD and the YLD Fellows are starting a Mock Trial clothing closet this year to help students from lower-income or rural schools access professional clothing at no cost.

Attorneys interested in volunteering for the Mock Trial Competition – which will be held March 22 and 23 in Nashville – or donating to the clothing closet should contact Laura Labenberg, YLD and law student development coordinator, at llabenberg@tnbar.org or (615) 277-3217. |||

All photos by Liz Slagle Todaro from the 2023 Competition. Pictured with individual winners are former TBA President Tasha C. Blakney (left) and former YLD President Brittany Faith.