Why should I join the Mock Trial Team?

Mock Trial is an excellent activity for those students who are considering attending law school for several reasons.   First, it provides the student with a taste of one aspect of lawyering: trial litigation.  While the mock trials are not perfect replicas of a real-world trial, they are structured in the same format and they do call upon the same skills that a real trial lawyer needs to succeed.  The experience can prove valuable in that it can help students decide if they really want to attend law school and go on to practice law.  Moreover, mock trial helps the student develop those skills that make trial lawyers successful (e.g., excellent oral communication skills; the ability to quickly develop and articulate a logical, persuasive argument; an understanding of the rules of evidence).  This is particularly important given that the traditional law school curriculum emphasizes writings skills over oral communication skills. Of course, the UMKC College Mock Trial team is not just for pre-law students.  The oral communication and logical reasoning skills that are honed in mock trial will benefit all students, regardless of their intended vocation.  Doctors, politicians, business persons, pharmacists, teachers, accountants, and just about every other potential profession rely to some degree on these skills.