About the Mock Trial Competition The Mock Trial Competition is open to students in years 10 and 11 up to the age of 21. It is conducted by the Law Society of NSW and is a practical means of introducing students to the law and to increase understanding of the basis of our judicial system. The competition also helps students to increase basic skills such as listening, speaking, writing, reading and analysing. The goal is not to win for the sake of winning, but to learn and understand the meaning of good citizenship through participation in our system of law and justice. All who participate in the Mock Trial Competition are winners in this sense.
Each team consists of 6 students who play the roles of barristers, lawyers and witnesses. The Law Society provides each team with Coaches and Magistrates, together with a complete set of the case materials and Competition Manual. Coaches teach the students about Court Procedure and Advocacy techniques. The cases are confined to simple criminal and civil matters heard in the Local or District Court.
All information and materials relating to the competition are posted to the web site for schools to access. This includes a comprehensive Mock Trial Manual which details the Mock Trial Rules and Procedures and the skills which are assessed in each mock trial. Also available is a contact list of participating schools with the names and telephone numbers of the co-ordinating teachers and coaches. Additionally a regional roster will be posted to the web each round, which details the role played by the school, their opponent and the name of the Magistrate allocated to the judge the trial.
Any amendments or changes to scripts or timetables etc are emailed immediately to teachers.
The first four rounds of the Competition are run on a regional round robin-basis, and the rounds are held in each of the ten regions from February to late May. The top 64 scoring teams across NSW and the ACT then compete on a knockout basis until two schools are left to meet for the State Grand Final in early December.
The winner of the State Grand Final is then eligible to compete in the International Mock Trial against the winning UK school. This International trial is held early the following year via video conferencing and is sponsored by the British Council.
Bond University School of Law sponsors the Mock Trial Competition by providing a part-fee scholarship to the winning advocate in the Competition to study law at
Bond University School of Law.