Our Mock Trial program for high-school students has seen resounding success for more than 15 years. In an effort to create the building blocks of strong public speaking and critical thinking skills before students cross the threshold into high school, we are now offering this unique program to rising 6th through 8th-graders.
The middle school program is a combination of mini mock trials, for variety and skill-building, and a central problem that is more substantial and is on the level of a high school mock trial program! Students work with strong teachers and grade-level appropriate cases. As part of this learning process, students will be directly exposed to the basics of certain substantive areas of law, including constitutional, criminal, and tort law, and rules of evidence.
Click here for a downloadable information sheet on our online version of this program or click the tabs below to learn more about this program.
Mock Trial offers students an opportunity to learn public speaking skills through a concentrated focus on the American judicial system, which places a premium on effective communication and persuasion through well-reasoned arguments. This focus provides students with an exciting and challenging medium for the development of speaking skills.
Throughout the week, students learn the skills and rules necessary for middle school mock trial. After engaging in multiple mini-trials for consistent hands-on practice, all students participate and play a role in a culminating final trial.
For maximum options in summer 2025, this program will be offered in-person at East and West coast locations, as well as online!
Click here for a downloadable information sheet for the online version of this program.
| Program | Grades | Location | Start Date | End Date | Price Options | Register |
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Click here for a downloadable information sheet for our online version of this program.
Don’t see a class you want in your time zone? Check other time zones to flexibly fit your needs!
| Click Here to View Sample ON-CAMPUS Schedule | Click Here to View Sample ONLINE Schedule |
Education Unlimited believes in small-group, immersive learning with subject matter experts and experienced teachers. We strive to provide industry-leading instruction to all of our students and hold all staff to the highest possible standards. Staff assignments vary by program and location. Some of our recent staff members for this program include:
Byron Arthur, JD - Instructor
Byron Arthur is a practicing attorney from New Orleans, Louisiana. As an acclaimed debate coach, he brings the perfect pairing of experience to our Mock Trial and American Legal Experience programs: legal knowledge and expertise combined with impeccable public speaking and critical thinking skills, which he has taught at the high school level for close to 20 years. He has been an instructor and debate coach for organizations such as the Harvard Debate Council, Holy Cross School of New Orleans, Jesuit High School, and the Stuart Hall School for Boys.
In the speech and debate world, Byron has had students in elimination rounds at all major national tournaments. He is a member of the Gold Key Society of the Barkley Forum at Emory University, The Blue/Green and Gold Society of the Glenbrooks, and a Two-Diamond Coach of the National Speech and Debate Association. Recently, Byron was elected to the NSDA coaches Hall of Fame, the nation's highest honor of accomplishment for speech and debate coaches.
Steven Kennedy, JD - Instructor
Steven Kennedy is an acting attorney and adjunct professor at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. Steven has more than 20 years of trial experience in insurance law and civil litigation. He is currently a senior trial attorney for a major national insurance company. For the past 17 years, Steven has also been an adjunct professor who teaches Trial Advocacy in the political science department of Clark University, where he is also the Director of the Mock Trial Program. The Clark Mock Trial team is nationally ranked and has regularly advanced to national tournaments and won numerous individual awards under his direction.
Steven believes that teaching mock trial curriculum in a camp setting offers an ideal setting and atmosphere for students to learn the valuable skills of advocacy in a fun and safe learning environment.
Hershini Gopal, JD - Instructor
Hershini earned her JD at UCLA law school after completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of Maryland. During her undergraduate years, Hershini worked for the United Nations Environmental Programme in Washington D.C. where she helped prepare for the 2015 Paris Climate Summit. She also spent two years working as a paralegal for the Department of Justice. In addition to her work in D.C., Hershini was also a Mock Trial competitor for the University of Maryland for three years, and upon graduation, she returned to her hometown of Denver, Colorado where she coached her former high school mock trial team to the state finals.
As a Colorado native, Hershini enjoys skiing and warming up afterward with vast quantities of chai.
Marina Shew - JD - InstructorMarina Shew earned her JD at Columbia Law School in New York City. She also holds dual Bachelor’s Degrees in Philosophy and Political Science from Clemson University in South Carolina. In both high school and college, Marina was the president of her respective debate teams, taking on leadership, teaching, and mentoring roles for younger students. She's also taught both debate and public speaking in Beijing, China. She has experience in several styles of public speaking, from debate to mock trial to ethics bowl.
As an instructor, Marina enjoys working with students individually to help them find their voice and refine their public speaking skills. In her teaching, she aims to create a friendly, comfortable, and approachable environment where everyone can work collaboratively to achieve personal improvement. In addition to her love of the law, Marina enjoys international travel to experience different countries and cultures. She also enjoys swing dancing, which she teaches in her spare time.