Cal Poly Mock Trial
Interested in trial? Thinking about law school? Looking to be a part of a fun yet competitive activity? You’ve reached the right place.
**This page is a source of basic information on the club. Please visit our separate website for more frequent updates and our competition statistics.**
What is Mock Trial?
Mock Trial is an activity where students are given a case packet of affidavits, case law, rules of evidence, exhibits, and more to write their legal theory. Every year, 600 teams of college students travel to other schools to argue their cases in front of real judges and attorneys, which you can be a part of!
Students from all majors can participate as either attorneys or witnesses, learning how to prepare and present a court case during Fall and Winter quarter.
- Cal Poly first started sending teams to regional Mock Trial competitions during the 2006-07 academic year. In 2017, 2022, and 2025 our top team earned a spot to compete at the national tournament, with the best 50 teams in the nation.
Opportunities to Participate
Competitive Teams
To be placed on a team, students must qualify at tryouts in Fall quarter. An audition packet with more information and dates will be available on our separate website.
Students who pass the tryout will be placed onto mixed teams of new and experienced members, competing against other programs across the state at tournaments and scrimmages in Fall Quarter. Teams are then competitively re-stacked for Winter quarter, participating in the official competition for a spot at Nationals. Teams bond closely throughout the season, leading to a close-knit and passionate community!
Mock Trial Class
Cal Poly also offers a two-quarter sequence of classes designed to help students: POLS 295 (Fall) and POLS 395 (Winter). These are optional for-credit classes, and participation in them does not guarantee a spot on the competitive teams.
These classes are a great way to understand Mock Trial in the broader context of the American legal system and they help refine skills relevant to the competitions. Feel free to email Sada Andrews, the Mock Trial advisor, for more information about the class.
Socials
To see photos from our tournaments, as well as receive up to date information on tryouts, please follow our Instagram, @cpmocktrial, or scan this QR code. Please also visit our website.
Contact
Mock Trial Club: cpmocktrial@gmail.com
Mock Trial President: Amanda Shea, aeshea@calpoly.edu
Mock Trial Advisor: Sada Andrews, saandrew@calpoly.edu
Sponsor Mock Trial
Support Cal Poly Mock Trial by making a gift online today!