High School Mock Trial Team

Compass has a high school Mock Trial team! The team participates in the Virginia High School Mock Trial Competition. The team placed 2nd in the region in 2020 (state competition cancelled), 3rd in the state in 2019, and 4th in the state in 2018. Several Compass members have received awards for individual performances.

About
Mock Trial provides students with an “authentic project-based courtroom experience” with substantial work as a team while honing personal skills in logic, debate, public speaking, and learning about the American judicial system. The Compass Mock Trial team follows the Virginia High School Mock Trial Program of the Virginia Law Related Education Institute which falls under the governance of the National High School Mock Trial Championship.

Membership
The team is seeking several new members for the upcoming year. The ideal team member will have experience in public speaking, debate, or acting and strong presentation and speaking skills along with an interest in the law. Interested students may be asked to audition or interview for a spot on the team. New members may be asked to serve as alternates/understudies or time-keepers during their first year as they “learn the ropes,” with the expectation of moving into a performing role their second year.

Eligibility
In accordance with national rules for teams and Compass policy, mock trial is only open to current, registered Compass high school students. Candidates must be homeschooled students in 9th-12th grade. Students must maintain their Compass enrollment throughout the mock trial year. Motivated 8th graders may be considered.

Meeting Schedule/Commitment
All members will be expected to participate in all practices/strategy sessions. The Mock Trial team meets on the first, third, and fourth Friday of each month from 3:00 pm-5:00 pm from mid-September through early March. The team participates in a regional competition in January/February, and an state competition in March/April.

Contact
Anyone interested in Mock Trial should email the team at CompassMockTrial@gmail.com