High School Mock Trial Team

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 VLRE, which falls under the governance of the National High School Mock Trial Championship.

The team typically accepts 2-4 new members for each school 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. Each May, the team hosts an information session ahead of auditions in June. Depending on their experience and open spots on the team, new members will be asked to join as performers or alternates/understudies.

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.

The Mock Trial team meets in-person every Friday from 5:00pm-6:30pm along with a once-weekly Zoom meeting. The meeting schedule runs from mid-September through early March, but the team may meet over the summer at the discretion of the team captain(s). The team participates in a regional competition in January/February and a state competition in March/April.

The mock trial team is a substantial commitment and interested members should be prepared to dedicate 4-5 hours per week. All members will be expected to participate in all practices/strategy sessions.

Team members must register through the Compass Activity Fees page. The dues for the 2023-2023 school year are $160.00 to cover the cost of team registration and hotel fees for the coaches.

Interested students should direct all questions to CompassMockTrial@gmail.com.