In a courtroom of sharp minds and sharper objections, the Mock Trial team turned legal drama into a competitive art form—one objection, one witness and one gavel strike at a time. Mock Trial is a competitive extracurricular activity in which teams act as lawyers and witnesses in either criminal or civil cases. Participants learn to navigate a courtroom environment, which prepares them for careers in law and various other fields.
Senior history major and captain of ULM’s Mock Trial team Blake Nethery explains the importance of the different majors participating in the sport.
“It’s not just about competing as attorneys; half of the team will take on the role of witnesses,” Nethery said. “We need individuals with acting experience to handle the theatrical aspect, but we also require STEM majors to serve as expert witnesses.”
This year, the team qualified for the Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS) after an impressive performance at the regional competition in New Orleans. Before the pandemic, ULM’s Mock Trial team advanced to ORCS every year from 2014 to 2020.
During competitions, teams argue opposing sides of the same case, being judged on their performance in four rounds. Not only are these contests entertaining to watch, they also help participants build skills in public speaking, acting and observation.
Junior biology major Chloe Eagan emphasized how mock trial has helped her communication skills.
“It’s all about presentation and how you convey your message,” Eagan said. “I was not at all a public speaker before joining, but I’ve improved significantly since then.”.
Each team member is evaluated on their performance during competitions on a scale of 1-10. The numbers are tallied to determine the team’s overall score, where the team with the higher number at the end wins. Awards are given to individuals based on judges’ rankings of the attorneys and witnesses, which adds points to their team’s overall score.
Junior political science major Melanna Morris spoke about the important skills she learned in Mock Trial.
“Mock trial has made me confident and a professional. It has made me into a better person in every way,” Morris said.
The primary objective of Mock Trial is not to simply prove a point but to understand courtroom dynamics and collaborate as a team to present evidence effectively. Members gain firsthand experience in the legal world and the opportunity to make a difference.
To learn more about Mock Trial, contact coach Robert “Bob” Noel through his email: [email protected].
