MockTrialReporters

The national mock trial championship was initiated in 1984 in Des Moines, Iowa, with teams from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin participating. After the success of the tournament in Iowa, more states became interested in participating and the tournament became billed as an "All-State" Tournament.

AMTA serves as the governing body for intercollegiate mock trial competition. Through engaging in trial simulations in competition with teams from other institutions, students develop critical thinking and public speaking skills, as well as a knowledge of legal practices and procedures. AMTA sponsors regional and national-level competitions, as well as providing interesting and complex case materials for academic use.

NCRA is internationally recognized as the premier educational and informational resource for its members and the public. Through its actively-involved membership, the association impacts legislative issues and the global marketplace. NCRA's certification programs provide members opportunities for success and recognition.

The United States Court Reporters Association is the national representative for the federal court reporting profession. The Association is committed to promoting and maintaining the highest standards of verbatim reporting, quality services, professional ethics, fidelity to the ideals of the judicial system, and advocating continuing education, as well as the utilization of state-of-the-art technologies.

Mock trials have proven to be an effective learning tool for students of all grade levels. It helps them understand the law, practice critical thinking, and gain greater confidence with public speaking by assuming the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a fictional criminal or civil trial. Participants experience first-hand the difficulties that judges, lawyers, and juries face in determining which facts are relevant and what legal arguments are effective. 

Court reporting professionals share a valid concern about the supply of court reporters over the next five years. Taking into account that court reporters tend to stay in the workforce longer than the average, Ducker still predicts that approximately 5,000 to 5,500 reporters will retire over the next five years.

Empire Mock Trial seeks to mold young people into confident, respectful, culturally-aware citizens.  The organization hosts a family of educational programs, where students learn about the rule of law and meet fellow young people from diverse backgrounds.  Empire Mock Trial supplements traditional classroom learning with programs that require students to think critically, communicate clearly, and collaborate effectively. 

In 1980, Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF) introduced the Mock Trial program, which already had a strong following in Los Angeles County, to all the counties in California. The program was created to help students acquire a working knowledge of our judicial system, develop analytical abilities, sharpen communication skills, and gain an understanding of their obligations and responsibilities as participating members of our society. The program currently involves 36 California counties.