Mock Trial 2: Civil Law Trial - The Case of the Negligent Pedestrian

In this highly interactive mock trial, students will work together to prepare and present a civil trial. To learn more about trials and trial skills, I highly recommend you take Mock Trial 1; however, students can take these two classes in any order. The first camp is an introduction to trials, evidence, and trial procedure. Mock Trial 2 is more about student collaboration and application.

Students will be litigating a negligence case. Students will learn the case details and then also learn about the tort of negligence. Students will learn how a negligence case is made and they will be asked to analyze their side's position according to the elements needed. Students will work together in breakout rooms (I will be present in each room by utilizing two devices) to brainstorm and prepare their cases! Mock trial teams in high schools and law schools require students to work together in small groups to prepare for their trials. This is also how attorneys work together in real life. Students will be able to practice their communication and intrapersonal skills as they apply it to working as a team. 

Students can decide to either be attorneys, pretend to be witnesses, or sit on the jury. Regardless of the role they choose, students must work together in their assigned group to help prepare the case for trial. Students are expected to participate. After the initial security check, students can keep their cameras off if they feel more comfortable; BUT, they are expected to communicate and discuss with their teammates. 

Class 1: Students will learn the case details, learn about negligence, and how to make a case. Students will be assigned their teams and parts (attorney, witness, or jury). 
Class 2: Students will learn about opening statements and be given a framework on how to prepare theirs. Students will then be put in breakout rooms with their teams. During this time, students will work to analyze the case and work on their opening statements. I will be present in each room through a different device (in one room I will be present using my laptop, in the other room I will be present using my cell phone). I will work with each group to ensure they are analyzing the case correctly and I will be able to see and hear each group throughout to keep all students under supervision.
Class 3: Students will learn about examining witnesses. Students will practice forming direct and cross-examination questions in the large group to get an idea of how it is done. Each team will have its own set of witnesses. During their group work in breakout rooms, students will plan their examination outlines and continue to practice. Again, each group will be monitored by me and I will spend time with each group to help them.
Class 4 - Students will learn about making legal arguments and how to form closing arguments. Students will work in their groups in breakout rooms to draft their closing arguments. Again, each group will be monitored by me and I will spend time with each group to help them.
Class 5 - Final wrap-up. students will have one more day to work together to perfect their case. 
Class 6 - Time for trial! All of the students' hard work in the previous 5 classes will be put to the test in this simulated trial. In the end, the jury will decide which side wins the case! Please note that the trial day will be 30 minutes longer than previous classes.