Voyagers Mock Trial Program - Fall 2011/Spring 2012
NOTE -
Mock Trial is a
Voyagers Resource Center offering, open to Voyagers members and non-members who are homeschoolers. Though many of the meetings will take place on Thursday afternoons during Coop hours, Mock Trial is
not a Thursday study group.
Overview:
Voyagers Mock Trial Team will study civil (and some criminal) law, rules of evidence, and courtroom trial procedures, as part of the Massachusetts Bar Association's Mock Trial Program. Participants will read material from actual case decisions and statutes; will learn to help prepare the entire case for both the prosecution and the defense (including opening statements, direct and cross-examinations, closing arguments); and will assume the roles of attorneys and witnesses in competitions against other teams.
We begin on September 15, 2011 - There will be a general kickoff meeting for all the team members. During the first few weeks, new members will learn the basics of the court system and trial procedures, while returning members will have a quick refresher plus opportunities to hone their presentation skills. The case materials for the competition will likely be available in early November. More details will be provided as they become available.
Who may participate - This is a high-school level program. While homeschoolers not yet in high school are welcome to join the team,
please understand that Massachusetts Bar Association Mock Trial rules permit only high school students, or homeschoolers reporting at a high-school level, to compete. We encourage those not yet in high school to help us prepare the prosecution and defense cases and learn the ropes before being eligible to compete in 9th-12th grade.
We are building a serious competitive team - This requires a strong commitment from all the members, and the better we do in competition, the longer and more rewarding that commitment will be! Please do not sign up for this program unless you can commit to all the homework, meetings, and competition dates.
Homework - This program requires several hours of homework per week, including reading, some writing, and some small-group work, in preparation for the competitions.
Not a drop-off program - Voyagers' Transfer of Oversight policies apply. Siblings are welcome to stay at Voyagers during Mock Trial meetings, provided that they are supervised by a parent/guardian and that they clean up after themselves before leaving.
Cost:
For those eligible to compete:
Voyagers members: $100
Non-members: $175
For those not yet eligible to compete (not yet in highschool):
Non-competing Voyagers Thursday Coop members: No fee
Non-competing Voyagers Coop members from other days: $50
Non-competing non-members: $50
Schedule:
We will do our best to coordinate with the needs of our team members and coaches, but attendance at all scheduled/assigned meetings and competitions is mandatory!
Team meetings - Beginning September 15, 2011, we will meet at Voyagers on Thursday afternoons from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. (and sometimes until 6:00 p.m., with notice). Then beginning October 27th and continuing through Voyagers' winter break (December 16, 2011 through January 16, 2012), we will generally meet twice a week (Thursdays 3:30 to 5:30, and Fridays 2:45 to 4:45), with time off around the holidays.
Additional time commitments - As the competitions approach, some longer and/or additional practice times will be scheduled, as needed. Depending on how we do in competition, this might include dates during the February break (February 20-24, 2012) and beyond (TBD).
Competitions - Voyagers will compete with at least three other Mock Trial teams on various weekday afternoons between late January and mid-February. Depending on our team's success -- and sometimes postponements due to snow -- we might continue competing in late February to early March. Dates and courtroom locations will be set by the MA Bar Association and announced when the time approaches.
Registration & Waiver Packet:
To register: Download and fill out the registration and waiver packet below. Mail the forms, along with a check made out to Voyagers, Inc., to the address on the form.
For more info:
Voyagers Mock Trial Program - please contact
mocktrial@voyagersinc.org
Massachusetts Bar Association Mock Trial Program: -
click here