Mock Trial

Founded in 1990 by Dr. John Vile and Dr. Thomas VanDervort, Mock Trial at MTSU has become an integral part of the Pre-Law curriculum.

At its inception, the Mock Trial Team had barely enough members to constitute one team. However, over the past several years, participation has grown to an average of six to eight teams, consisting of six to eight members each. These students are taught to prepare and deliver opening and closing statements, direct and cross examinations, and objections. They also become familiar with the more subtle aspects of trial work such as courtroom appearance and demeanor.

Although Mock Trial demands a great deal of time and sacrifice from its members, it is worth the effort. It gives students the opportunity to work directly with professors and legal practitioners. It also develops self-confidence, analytical acumen, teamwork, and public speaking abilities. Although MTSU is looking forward to continuing success in winning trophies, it is more concerned with developing individual talents and preparing students for a productive future.

Each fall, MTSU offers a one-hour credit class, P S 2100: Legal Courtroom Procedures for one hour of credit (the class may be taken up to four times). All students who are enrolled in this class, which requires no prerequisites, participate in an invitational mock trail tournamount that MTSU hosts each November; this tournament is not one of the largest in the country. Advisors John Vile and Dr. Clyde Willis sit on the national Board of Directors of the American Mock Trial Associtation.

Since 1989, the MTSU Mock Trial Program has established itself as one of the most competitive and successful programs in the nation.

Mock Trial Highlights

• 1990
  Named Outstanding New Team at National Tournament.
• 1992
  Teams placed 10th and 17th in the National Tournament.
• 1993
  Teams placed 3rd in the Championship and 7th in Gold Division, National Tournament. Five individual awards at National Tournament.
• 1994
  Teams placed 1st, 2nd, and 4th in Gold Division of the National Tournament. Two individual awards at the National Tournament.
• 1995
  Teams placed 1st. 5th, and 8th in regional and 6th in National Championship Tournament. Two individual awards and one attorney in All-American Round at National Tournament.
• 1996
  Teams placed 4th and 6th at regionals. Team won 2nd place in National Silver Tournament and 9th in National Championship Tournament. Two individual awards and one student in All American Round.
• 1997
  Teams placed 1st and 8th at regionals. Team won 3rd place in National Silver Tournament and school placed 9th in National Championship Tournament. One All-American Attorney Award.
• 1998
  Teams placed 1st and 3rd at regionals. School was 7th in National Championship Tournament. Two individual awards in National Tournament and one attorney in the All-American Round.
• 1999
  Teams placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in regional competition. Two teams went to the National Championship Tourament bringing home a 3rd place award. One All-American Withness and one All-American Attorney Award.
• 2000
  Team won first at Missouri Invitational Tournament. Temas made quarter-finals and semi-finals at University of Wisconsin Invitational Tournament. Teams placed 1st and 2nd in regional competition and earned "Spirit of AMTA" Award." Two teams went to the National Championship Tournament bringing home 7th place and "honorable mention" awards, and two All-American Attorney awards.
• 2001
  Top team won second place at Birmingham Regional Tournament. Top team placed tenth in nation and one All-American Attorney Award. Tenth consecutive year an MTSU team has placed in the top ten at nationals.
• 2002
  Team won first place at Western Kentucky University Invitational Tournament. One team attended National Tournament in St.Paul, Minn.; and won one individual attorney award. Another team attended the National Championship Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, where the team placed eighth; won one attorney and one witness award. Top attorney won first-ever scholarship for mock trail to Stetson Law School.
• 2003
  MTSU hosted the largest invitational tournament in the nation with 60 teams. Team placed first in regional competition at the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and received six individual awards. Student recieved "All-American" Top 10 attorney award at the National Championship Tournament.