At the University of Maryland, mock trial is not only a competitive team but also a co-curricular program with courses offered by the Department of Government & Politics. Undergraduate students from any major and in any year of their studies, including incoming freshmen, are eligible to join the Maryland Mock Trial Program.
Coached by law professors and practicing attorneys, many of whom are former Maryland mockers, students who join the Maryland Mock Trial Program develop skills that are useful in any profession, not just future legal careers. Students will learn to communicate with confidence, think on their feet, argue persuasively, and become compelling storytellers.
Our goal is to compete at the highest level and win our sixth national championship, so being a member of the program requires a substantial time commitment. Participation includes program wide practices twice weekly as well as individual team meetings to prepare for those practice trials. Teams preparing for tournaments typically have practice trials on Wednesday evenings and Sundays during the day while development teams may only have practice trials once a week. Though the time commitment may be daunting, many students find mock trial to be the most rewarding academic experience they have at Maryland.