Harvard Mock Trial Association

	Welcome, prospective members, to the Harvard Mock Trial Association! Although we are one of the most unconventional programs in the nation, being run entirely by students without the aid of a coach or advisor, we are also one of the most successful: this past year, our top two teams ranked first and second in their division at the National Championship Competition, receiving more individual awards than any other school in the country. This success was by no means a solitary event. In the past four years, our top two teams have repeatedly placed in the top 10 at the Championship. Matching this success in competition, our program has expanded its structure in the past three years to include five teams, a college invitational tournament, and a high school training program. Now ranked as the best total program in the nation, Harvard Mock Trial welcomes ALL individuals, regardless of age or prior experience, to try out for the team. For more information about Harvard Mock Trial or the tryout process in general, please read the Frequently Asked Question section below. You should also feel free to contact us with questions at harvardmocktrialtryouts@gmail.com. Thanks for your interest, and we hope to see you this September.



	Each prospective member must audition as both an attorney and a witness, performing three tasks: a witness portrayal, a cross-examination, and a closing statement. Details for interested individuals will be posted as the 2010-2011 tryout season approaches.


	How is College Mock Trial Different from High School Mock Trial? What Makes a Good Attorney? What Makes a Good Witness? How Does the Mock Trial Season Work? How Do I Try Out? What should I do if I'm ever about to be attacked by wild dogs?

BENEFITS OF HARVARD MOCK TRIAL
Are you interested in the law? Do you enjoy public speaking, debate, or even mock trial itself? Join Harvard Mock Trial!

Have fun traveling and meeting other college students from all over the country. Each year we travel throughout the country for tournaments, and in past years have competed everywhere from New York City and Washington, DC to Memphis, TN and St. Petersburg, FL.
Meet amazing people. Teams spend a lot of time working, traveling, competing, and eating together. Members become very close friends. In addition, the Harvard Mock Trial Association holds regular parties and social events to encourage friendships between teams. Everyone in the program agrees that Harvard Mock Trial has been responsible for some of their fondest college experiences and closest friends.
Express your creative side. Some of the most important people on any mock trial team are witnesses, which range from serious experts to wacky characters. As a witness, you can develop your acting skills, improve your impromptu thinking, learn about the law from a unique vantage point, and even experiment with costume design
Improve your public speaking. Through mock trial, students become more comfortable and confident in their public speaking, helping them both in and outside of the classroom.
Spend time in real courtrooms arguing before real judges. No other undergraduate organization can offer you the chance to make arguments in front of large crowds and State Supreme Court justices. We’ve done it. If you join, you may get that chance too!
Plan and organize mock trial tournaments for high school and college students. We offer the full array of experiences—within the program you’ll have the opportunity to plan a tournament logistically, run a training program financially, and volunteer your time to teaching high school students about mock trial.
Learn and practice analytical thinking skills that you’re sure to find useful, regardless of your field of interest. Although a good number of the members of our team are interested in the law, many team members have concentrations such as Chemistry, Economics, English, and Physics. Recent alumni have gone on to Harvard Law School, Stanford Law School, Yale Law School, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Business School, or even work in the business world at companies like Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, and Bain. If you join Mock Trial, you’ll have fun competing at the highest level, spending time with amazing people, and challenging yourself in a way no class can!