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John S. Bradway High School Mock Trial Competition

Mock Trial Competition/Law Camp Committee

Mock Trial Competition
Offered each spring, this program allows students to play the roles of lawyers and witnesses in a simplified mock trial. Approximately 30 public and parochial high school teams compete each year. Topics of previous programs have involved the suppression of evidence, hate crimes, constitutional issues, simple negligence matters and civil forfeitures in a criminal context. YLD volunteer coaches guide students in understanding the way a trial works, help develop strategy and promote an understanding of trial fundamentals. The teams compete in a round-robin tournament, with the champion representing Philadelphia at the state mock trial finals at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. Winners there go on to represent Pennsylvania in the national finals. Volunteers are needed to serve as team coaches and judges for the preliminary rounds of the competition.

Mock Trial Law Camp
This program helps prepare students for the annual high school Mock Trial Competition. The camp is an intensive all-day training session that couples instructive session with hands-on training in direct and cross-examination of parties and witnesses. It also helps with their preparation and presentation of all components of the trials, including opening statements and closing arguments. Volunteers are needed to be group leaders and to assist in the student presentation. Group leaders are responsible for guiding teams of six students through the entire two-day program. There is a smaller time commitment for volunteers who want to serve as witnesses and jury members or help with the administration of the program.

Interested in becoming a mock trial coach?

If you're interested in possibly becoming a mock trial attorney advisor/coach for one of the dozens of local Philadelphia high school mock trial teams, please contact Roberta West via e-mail at Roberta.West@Temple.edu or via phone at (215) 204-1887.

Please note: The mock trial problem, rules and evaluating judges information can be found on the Pennsylvania Bar Association Web site: www.pabar.org, (then click on the Young Lawyers section, then click on Statewide Mock Trial)

2008 John S. Bradway Philadelphia High School Mock Trial Competition


Each spring students from 50 public, private, and parochial schools compete in a simplified mock trial for the City Mock Trial Championship. The students are given the opportunity play the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a fictitious criminal or civil case, focusing on real legal issues. Previous trials have involved the suppression of evidence, hate crimes, constitutional issues, simple negligence matters, civil forfeitures in a criminal context, and 1st degree murder.


The following sign-up form is for attorneys who are interested in serving as volunteers in this year's Philadelphia High School Mock Trial Competition, which is run by Temple University Beasley School of Law and the Young Lawyers Division of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

If you have volunteered in the past, we thank you and hope that you will do so this year. If you have not yet volunteered for the Mock Trial Competition, we encourage you to do so and are confident the experience will be rewarding.

Please do not forget to provide your e-mail address; indicate whether you want to serve as a presiding or scoring judge; three dates that you are able volunteer; rank those dates in order of preference; and indicate whether you are able to serve as a volunteer for more than one trial. We will make every effort to select a date(s) that best accommodates your schedule, but there are times we are unable to do so and we appreciate your understanding.

Volunteer Sign Up Form and Schedule

Please provide the following information and click "Submit". Required items are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Your Information

Volunteer Name*
Address*
City*
State*
Zip Code*
Day Phone*
Cell Phone
Evening Phone*
Business Fax
E-mail*

Your Preferences

Please indicate in the boxes appearing below in the order of your personal preference (1 to 3) which dates and times you are available to serve as a volunteer Scoring Judge or Presiding Judge in the 2008 John S. Bradway Philadelphia High School Mock Trial Competition organized by Temple University Beasley School of Law and the Young Lawyers Division of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Would you prefer to serve as a volunteer Scoring Judge or Presiding Judge? If you have a preference, kindly check the appropriate box below:

Scoring Judge

Presiding Judge

Are you willing to serve as a judge in more than one trial? If so, kindly check the appropriate box below:

Willing to volunteer for two trials

Willing to volunteer for three trials

Trial Dates

We will make every effort to assign you to a trial according to your highest personal preference, and we will contact you by email as soon as possible to confirm the date and time of your trial. Please indicate which dates and times you are available, in the order of your personal preference (1 to 3).

Monday, January 28, 2008 @ Beasley Law School (Round #1)

   9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m

   11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m

   1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

   3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008 @ Beasley Law School (Round #1)

   9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m

   11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m

   1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 @ Beasley Law School (Round #1)

   9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m

   11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m

   1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 31, 2008 @ Beasley Law School (Round #1)

   9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m

   11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m

   1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

   3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Friday, February 1, 2008 @ Beasley Law School (Round #1)

   9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m

   11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m

   1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 2, 2008 @ Beasley Law School (Round #1)

   9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m

   11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m

   1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 7, 2008 @ Criminal Justice Center (Round #1)

   4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m

(Make up date if needed)

Saturday, February 9, 2008 @ Criminal Justice Center (Round #1) IF NEEDED

   9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m

(Make up date if needed)

Wednesday, February 13, 2008 @ Criminal Justice Center (Round #1)

   4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m

Thursday, February 14, 2008 @ Criminal Justice Center (Round #2)

   4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m

Saturday, February 16, 2008 @ Criminal Justice Center (Round #2)

   9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m (7 trials during this time slot)

   12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m (8 trials during this time slot)

**60 lawyers needed to serve as judges for this round

Saturday, February 23, 2008 @ Criminal Justice Center (Round #3)

   9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m (8 trials during this time slot)

   12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m (8 trials during this time slot)

**32 lawyers needed to serve as judges for this round

Thursday, Feb 28, 2008 @ Criminal Justice Center (Snow Date only if needed)

   4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m

Saturday, March 1, 2008 @ Criminal Justice Center

Morning Session: Round #4 (Quarter Final)

   9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m

Afternoon Session: Round #5 (Semi-Final)

   1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MOCK TRIAL COACH?

If you are interested in possibly becoming a mock trial attorney advisor/coach for one of the dozens of local Philadelphia high school mock trial teams participating in the 2008 John S. Bradway Mock Trial Competition, please contact Roberta West or Eleanora Jones via e-mail at Roberta.West@Temple.edu or Eleanora.Jones@Temple.edu or via phone at (215) 204-8948

Please note: The mock trial problem, rules and evaluating judges information can be found on the Pennsylvania Bar Association website: www.pabar.org, (then click on the Young Lawyers section, then click on Statewide Mock Trial)