High School Mock Trial offers high school students a unique opportunity to learn public speaking skills through a concentrated focus on the American judicial system.
Students will work on a problem for the week that is age-appropriate=, balanced, and challenging. The adversarial nature of the American legal system places a premium on effective communication and persuasion through well-reasoned arguments. Therefore, our focus on this system provides students with an exciting and challenging medium for the development of speaking skills.
Whether online or in person, Education Unlimited proudly offers top tier curriculum in our Mock Trial Program.To learn more about our online program, click here.
Mock Trial participants will work with a lead instructor (typically a practicing attorney or an instructor with personal experience and expertise in competitive mock trial) to learn the structure of the court systems, differences between the process of law involved in civil and criminal trials, and most importantly proper methods of the formation and presentation of convincing legal arguments. 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, as well as rules of evidence.
Past activities for the high school mock trial have included a visit to a courthouse for a first-hand look at the American justice system at work, participation in simulated client interviews, and/or professionally critiqued oral arguments. The weeklong session includes at least two mock trials, including opening statements, the examination of witnesses and introduction of evidence and closing arguments. Guest speakers such as area attorneys or judges have been regular features of recent ALE high school session. Students will build toward a full-length mock trial exhibition at week's end. Instructors are chosen for their ability to connect with and enthuse this age group. This program is campus-based for an immersive learning experience.
For maximum options in summer 2025, this program will be offered in-person at West coast locations, as well as online!
Includes a 1-hour lunch break plus shorter 10-15 min breaks
Friday
8:00 am to 1:00 pm
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Includes a 1-hour lunch break plus shorter 10-15 min breaks
*Schedule subject to change - Final schedule posted in Google Classroom the Wednesday prior to the start of class.
On Campus Sample Schedule High School Mock Trial
8:00 am
Breakfast in the dining hall (overnight campers)
9-9:15 am
Extended day camper check-in
9:15 am
Trial structure class
12:30 pm
Lunch in the dining hall (included for all campers)
1:45 pm
Debate class
5:30 pm
Dinner in the dining hall (included for all campers)
6:30 pm
Evening elective classes
8:00 pm
Evening recreation activities
9:00 pm
Extended day camper check-out
10:00 pm
Floor check
10:30 pm
Room check
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:
Aishwarya Naidu, JD - Instructor
Aishwarya Naidu, a practicing state criminal prosecutor and Deputy Attorney General with the Department of Justice, brings 12 years of legal experience to her role. She regularly handles criminal trials, preliminary hearings, and other evidentiary proceedings in state court, specializing in complex white-collar crime cases. B
efore her career as a prosecutor, Aishwarya gained over seven years of experience as a mock trial competitor in both college and law school. At the University of San Diego School of Law, she was a key member of the nationally ranked USD Mock Trial Team, winning the Western Regional Championships and advancing to Nationals. She also secured first place in USD’s Thorsnes Closing Argument Competition. As an undergraduate at Cal Poly Pomona, Aishwarya's team advanced to Nationals for two consecutive years, and she received an All-Region Attorney award.
Since graduating, Aishwarya has dedicated herself to mentoring college and high school mock trial students, helping them build confidence and refine their advocacy skills. This is her first summer with Education Unlimited, where she believes that teaching mock trial in a camp setting will create an interactive and enjoyable environment for students to cultivate their passion for advocacy.
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 13 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.
