Mock Trial is a fall/winter activity in which students simulate a real trial. Teams are provided materials from the Minnesota State Bar Association and develop a case from top to bottom.  

Teams consist of attorneys, witnesses, a timekeeper and a bailiff. Teams compete against people from a different school. Teams must prepare both sides of the case (prosecution/plaintiff and defense) for every competition. 

Trials are performed at Real Courthouses in front of Real Judges and Attorneys.  Last season, our team argued in front of some of the top judges in the state of Minnesota, including Minnesota Supreme Court Justice David Lillehaug. 

No, Mock Trial is a great activity for people of a wide variety of interests such as acting, public speaking, debate, and law.

Being a witness in a mock trial is acting. As a witness, you learn a script and portray a character. Mock trial is especially effective at developing Improv and Method Acting skills.

The AVHS Mock Trial team is one of the top teams in the Nation. We placed in the Top Ten at 7 National Tournaments since 2019, and have placed in the top 3 at State in 4 of the past 5 seasons.

Members of the AVHS Mock Trial team have won over 240 individual awards in the past 7 years, including 16 All-State and 15 National Awards (more than any other team in the state).

You can do Mock Trial in addition to most other activities. Mock trial participants have successfully participated in all of the following activities:

• Jazz Band
• Broadway
• Band
• School Plays
• Debate
• Speech
• Soccer
• Volleyball
• Chess
• Robotics
• Quiz Bowl
• Math Team
• Science Olympiad
• Student Council
• National Honor Society
• Baseball
• Football
• Softball
• Lacrosse
• Dance
• Choir
• Ultimate Frisbee
• One Act
• Others!
  

The only activities where scheduling conflicts are difficult to overcome are winter sports.