The National Trial Competition is administered by the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) & the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL). This is one of two mock trial offerings available at Mitchell Hamline.
In Mock Trial, students are put onto teams that work together to litigate a trial case. Mock Trial competitions are an excellent way to distinguish your resume, to network, and to learn litigation skills used in real-world practice. Graduates of mock trial are now working as judicial law clerks, prosecutors, public defenders, judges, and litigators in private firms, among others.
The time frame for involvement is from mid-December to March/April. There is no brief-writing and there is only one case per competition that you need to know. The time commitment does involve some weekday meetings and practices on weekends.
Deadline for applications is September TBA, 2025. Tryout dates are to be announced. No pre-requisites required. Advocacy class and/or undergraduate mock trial preferred.
Send an email stating: (1) why you would like to tryout for mock trial; (2) any experience in mock trial or theater; and (3) your year and whether you are local or remote to Judge Cynthia McCollum at [email protected] by September TBA, 2025. Applicants will then receive a file, which they will use to prepare an opening statement and cross-examination of a witness as part of the try-out process.
There will be two MHSL teams and all travel expenses are covered by MHSL. Students earn credit for participating.
Credits
Participation is worth two (2) credits. Students must log 90 hours total during competition and practice to earn two credits.
Coaches
Please contact Hon. Cynthia McCollum for more information.
2025-26 Competition Information:
Format
In-Person