What are we
looking for?
We are looking for smart,
dedicated and
talented people. Typically this includes individuals with public
speaking experience, an interest in trial work and/or acting
experience.
How much time does
mock trial require?
The time that is required changes throughout the year, and from person
to person. You can expect to meet at least once a week, either to
prepare case materials, attend administrative meetings, etc. In
preparation for major competitions, members will meet several times a
week and are expected to work outside of regularly scheduled practices
both individually and in pairs. That being said, our program is 100%
student run. Practice and scrimmage schedules will be designed
around the schedules and conflicts of team members.
Can I be involved
in mock trial and other extracurricular activities?
Sure - Almost all of our members participate in other extracurricular
activities and/or do internships in tandem with mock trial. We
currently have members involved in Model UN, Parliamentary Debate, the
West Philadelphia Tutoring Project, Greek Life, The Daily
Pennsylvanian, SAC, Hype, Penn-Yo, Glee Club, and the John Marshall
Pre-Law Honor Society.
Do I need mock
trial experience?
Absolutely not. Many members of the Penn team had no prior mock
trial experience prior to joining our program.
How do I join?
Tryouts are held in September. We will hold an informational meeting in
the fall where we will describe the specifics of the tryout procedure.
You will be given a small portion of a case and what you do during your
tryout is dependent on whether you're trying out to be an attorney,
witness or both.
If you're trying out as a witness,
you will
be asked to learn a particular witness statement and testify on behalf
of a particular party in the case (plaintiff/prosecution or defense.)
You will be asked questions during a direct examination and a cross
examination. During these examinations, you will be asked to add some
character to the witness role. Think foreign accents and characters
from your favorite movies or TV shows.
If you're trying out as an attorney
(or for
both roles), you will first tryout as a witness answering questions
during a direct examination. Same character rules apply. Afterwards,
you will give a cross examination of the witness you just played (the
witness will be played by a current team member). We strongly recommend
that you prepare some questions for the cross examination in advance of
your audition.
How can I prepare
for the tryout?
Once you have the tryout materials, the best thing to do is learn what
you're given and develop some strong witness characters. We love to be
entertained! A great witness character is just as fun to watch as a
strong cross examination or opening statement. We'll provide you with
some guidance during the information session. We'll also hold optional
"office hours" the day before tryouts begin so that you can come ask
our President (Dina Liu) or VP Personnel (Jay Friedel) any further
questions you have about tryouts or Mock Trial in general.
