The Connecticut High School and Middle School Mock Trial Competitions (formerly organized by Civics First), are an exciting opportunity for students to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the American legal system by participating actively in the legal process. Mock trials help students gain an appreciation for the rule of law, legal issues and courtroom procedure.

Beyond the ability to develop their knowledge of the legal system and their oral advocacy skills, including proficiency in asking questions, listening, reasoning and thinking on their feet, participation in mock trial will teach the students professionalism. Students learn ethics, civility and how to be ardent but courteous advocates for their clients. Good sportsmanship and respect for all participants are central to the CBA mock trial competitions.

A team is required to have at least six students of high school or middle school age, with ten to fourteen being advisable. Most teams are organized through schools, but we will welcome other community teams as well. All teams must have an adult advisor, such as a teacher or a parent. A legal advisor is highly recommended.

For more information about the CBA's Mock Trial program, contact Jenn Shukla.

High School Mock Trial

The High School Mock Trial Competition begins with regional trials held in courthouses around the state in the late Fall and early Winter. All teams that win both sides of the case in their regional trials advance to a statewide playoff tournament in February and March, which culminates in the state championship round before the Connecticut Supreme Court. The state champion then represents Connecticut in the National High School Mock Trial Championship, which is held in May of each year. The participation fee for High School Mock Trial is $350 per team.

Register for High School Mock Trial
 

High School Regional Trials Schedule for 2024-2025:

  • Bridgeport (1061 Main Street)
    Friday, December 13, 2024
    9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
    Full, new registrants will be added to waitlist.
  • Danbury (146 White Street)
    Thursday, January 9, 2025 (new date due to snow delay)
    9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • Hartford (95 Washington Street)
    Wednesday, December 18, 2024
    9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • Middletown (1 Court Street)
    Monday, December 9, 2024 and
    Monday, December 16, 2024  (Must attend both days)
    1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • New Britain (20 Franklin Square)
    Friday, December 13, 2024
    9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
    Full, new registrants will be added to waitlist.

  • New Haven (235 Church Street)
    Tuesday, December 3, 2024
    9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

  • Waterbury (300 Grand Street)
    Friday, December 6, 2024
    9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

For teams that advance beyond the preliminary round, the playoffs and championship schedule is below.

High School Playoffs:

  • Bridgeport (1061 Main Street)
    Friday, February 7, 2025
    9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • New Britain (20 Franklin Square)
    Friday, February 7, 2025
    9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Semi-Finals (Final eight teams):

  • Middletown (1 Court Street)
    Friday, March 7, 2025
    9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Championships:

  • The high school state championship round will be held before the Connecticut Supreme Court in March, 2025.

Middle School Mock Trial

The Middle School Mock Trial Competition begins with regional trials held in several schools in March. All teams that win both sides of the case in their regional trials advance to a statewide playoff tournament in April, which culminates in the state championship round before the Connecticut Appellate Court. The participation fee for Middle School Mock Trial is $250 per team.

Register for Middle School Mock Trial - Pay Now 
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Register for Middle School Mock Trial - Check or Fee Waiver
Click here if you cannot pay by credit card and need an invoice to pay by check or have applied for a fee waiver

Middle School Regional Trials Schedule for 2024-2025:

  • Wallingford (Dag Hammarskjold Middle School)
    Thursday, March 13, 2025
    3:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
    (Snow Date: Wednesday, March 19)
  • West Hartford (Sedgwick Middle School)
    Thursday, March 20, 2025
    3:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
    (Snow Date: Tuesday, March 25)

For teams that advance beyond the regional round, the playoff schedule is below.

Middle School Playoffs:

  • New Britain (20 Franklin Square)
    Friday, April 4, 2025
    9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Mock Trial Materials

High School Materials
Middle School Materials
General Materials

Volunteer Opportunities

There are ample opportunities for members of Connecticut's bar, bench, and law students to volunteer to coach or judge mock trial teams. The volunteers are the lifeblood of the program, and volunteering as a judge or coach is an immensely rewarding way to nurture the pipeline into the legal profession. 

Volunteer Opportunities

Effective January 1, 2025, Connecticut-licensed attorneys who coach or judge high school mock trials through the CBA may receive up to two hours of MCLE credit per annual credit cycle (effective January 1, 2025). For volunteer judges in the high school competition, the CBA will automatically provide a record of your earned CLE credits. CBA members can view those credits in the CBA CLE Tracker. Attorney coaches of a high school mock trial team can request that your credits be added to your CLE Tracker by submitting the form below.

Request CLE Credit for Coaches 

Financial Assistance

The CBA is committed to ensuring that cost will not be an obstacle to any school participating in the mock trial programs, and assistance with expenses and fees is available for qualifying schools. In particular, these programs are supported by the Gruendel Fund at the Connecticut Bar Institute. The Gruendel Fund was endowed in 2023 by Dr. Janice Gruendel and the Honorable F. Herbert Gruendel, and their family and friends, in recognition of Judge Gruendel's outstanding career as an educator and jurist for the state of Connecticut. If you would like to apply for financial assistance, contact jshukla@ctbar.org.

If you would like to donate to the Gruendel Fund, use the link below.

Donate Here

Leadership

The High School and Middle School Mock Trial Competitions are conducted under the supervision of the Mock Trial Subcommittee of the CBA's Civics Education Committee.

Attorney Jonathan Weiner, Chair
Attorney Jeanine Dumont, Co-Chair
Hon. Joyce Krutick-Craig (ret.)
Hon. Hope C. Seeley
Attorney Mark Youssef