Find a Lawyer
Find a Lawyer

Mock Trial Program

This academic program gives high school students a platform to compete at county, state and national levels – and offers attorneys and judges a meaningful volunteer opportunity.

Mock Trial Programs allow students to acquire a working knowledge of our judicial system and encourages them to develop their analytical abilities and communication skills while gaining increased self-confidence. You can learn more about the Contra Costa County Office of Education’s Mock Trial program here.

Contra Costa County Office of Education is seeking volunteers from members of the county bar to give a few hours of time to the 2023-2024 Contra Costa County Mock Trial Program. This season, Mock Trial will be in-person at the Bray Courthouse in Martinez, and your expertise is needed in scoring and inspiring the efforts of future attorneys.

What is Required: Volunteers will watch and score court proceedings while students, acting as witnesses and attorneys, try an entire case in a timed exchange.  Attorneys and judges are needed especially during the first four nights of preliminary rounds to act as judges and scorers. Click here to volunteer.

The 42nd Annual Contra Costa County High School Mock Trial, 2023-2024

Preliminary Rounds

  • Tuesday, January 23, 2024
  • Thursday, January 25, 2024
  • Tuesday, January 30, 2024
  • Thursday, February 1, 2024

Quarter Finals

  • Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Semi Finals

  • Thursday February 8, 2024

Finals

  • Tuesday February 13, 2024

See the Contra Costa County Office of Education’s website for sign up links to volunteer as either a judge or a scorer.

Hercules High School is looking for a Mock Trial Attorney Coach.

Interested? Send an email to Angelina Yue angelina.yue@wccschools.org.

Meeting Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays

Meeting Hours: 3:45-5:15 pm

School: Hercules High School

Job Description: As a student-run club, we have a small group of student captains who teach and lead the entire club the basics of mock trial while working with the other members towards building arguments and preparing for competitions. We are looking for an attorney who will mentor the team through reviewing and giving feedback on the team’s courtroom presence and statements. We are also looking for an attorney who will be willing to work with the student captains as equals.

Qualifications: We are looking for anyone with legal experience (e.g. law student, paralegal, or attorney) who is willing to come and help the team for four or more meetings.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience in the pretrial procedure

Expectations:

  • Read or skim the case packet to get a good understanding of the case and materials
  • Give feedback to the team (either via comments in Google Docs or verbally during club meetings)
  • Attend a few team meetings via Zoom (our club meetings are 3:45-5:15 pm on campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays but if that time does not work for you, we are willing to try and accommodate to your schedule)
  • Act more as a mentor for the team instead of a typical attorney coach
Back to our special events & community service opportunities