JURIS STUDENTS Local professionals donate their time to teach students about the legal system | By Kelly Twedell
W
hat do you get
when
you combine 30
teenagers and a horrific zoo accident? It may sound like yet-another bad
lawyer joke, but it’s actually a recipe for mock trial. Each year lawyers, judges and teachers all over the state donate their time and talents to coach students involved in the North Carolina Advocates for Justice mock trial program, operated
lawyers,
n i n e j u d g e s , a bunch of
through the Carolina Center for Civic Education. Throughout the year these professionals provide students with a glimpse of the legal profession, all while preparing them for regional and state trial competitions. Held on the same day each spring, competitions in Asheville, Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, High Point, Wilmington, Greenville and Raleigh send finalist teams forward to the next round and in May, one local team advanced competing at the national level in Phoenix, Arizona. Across the state 375 volunteers
dedicate their time to judging, scoring and mentoring the students through the legal process from start to finish. Locally, nine area high schools participate in the program but it also reaches down to the elementary level recreational mock trial clubs formed at some area schools. Mock Trial gives students the opportunity to simulate judicial proceedings by acting as attorneys, witnesses and bailiffs. Teams compete in at least two rounds of competition, during which they take turns arguing for the plaintiff’s and the defense’s side of the case. Students
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