It’s the beginning of a new school year, meaning it’s time for clubs to start their activities again. One specific club starting up again pertains to the use of the law, forensic science, and acting skills. Though this club only remains active for half the year, the experiences obtained during this short amount of time remains memorable.

   Each year Pitman’s mock trial team works diligently to thrive at the competition held in January. In this competition schools from all over the Central Valley gather at a courthouse to fight one side of a specific case assigned to every school. Each school analyzes the case and produces two teams: a prosecution team and a defense team.  Once the competition day arrives each team discovers which school they will compete against- for example, Pitman’s prosecution team faces Turlock High’s defense team. Each pair then must try their case in front of a real judge, who finds the defendant innocent or guilty depending on the arguments each team provided. This process repeats itself more than once in the days following the start of the competition, with students acting as lawyers, witnesses, defendants, and victims. Though the rulings of this court case will be decided by the judge, based on evidence and arguments introduced, victory does not come so swiftly. The real opinions that matter do no come from the judge, because win or lose your case, your school still holds a possibility of winning the completion. 

  In the courtroom three to four real lawyers will sit in the jury’s section observing each participant of the competition. They score every student varying from lawyers to witnesses, leaving behind positive and negative comments for each individual. Through these scores we find the winners of the competition.

  Now that a new year has started the Pitman mock trial team needs new members to fill these roles. The auditions begin Tuesday, and students can apply for the role of a lawyer or a witness. If you have not had a chance to sign up for a date to try out Mr. Thomas –the mock trial coach, located in room H117- would gladly assign you a specific day to audition.

  Each role differs for the auditioning process, but one major key to always remember when auditioning for either role is confidence. This competition will be held in front of an audience and if you cannot support yourself in front of your school’s coach, a room full of people hanging on every word you choose to use might instill more than a fright inside of you.  Another point to remember includes your speech; have clarity and always use proper grammar. One of the team’s jobs consists of portraying adult professionals; adult professionals do not speak in acronyms. Viewing this club as a job you’re applying for should prepare your communicative skills.

  When separately auditioning remember, though a witness’s role could be conceived as a more benign job compared to a lawyer’s, it holds the same amount of importance to the team. Without the witnesses the lawyers would have no one to question, defend, or face. When auditioning for this specific role, note that inevitably memorization will follow. A witness’s job pertains to memorizing a statement made by their character, so much that by January you should have the ability to recite every word of it. Though you must also keep in mind that you are that character during the competition, so react accordingly. If your character’s background is a fifty-five year old forensic scientist then deliver your answers as a fifty-five year old forensic scientist would. Even upon auditioning, receive and study the witness statement, and come prepared to portray a character, with confidence that you can answer any question involving that statement.

  Now if you prefer the role that takes more work and commitment stand ready to receive hours of work followed by memorization, new ideas, and a few headaches along the way. Taking on the role of a lawyer will entail memorization, of what, depends on the type of job you must complete. You might have to memorize old court cases for pre-trial, questions written for witnesses, speeches used for opening and closing statements, or objections allowed in the courtroom. The job requires professionalism and confidence, arguments inevitably occur, and those traits will carry you easily through them. So upon auditioning for this role dissect the witness statement you received and find the information relevant to the case. Write ten questions you would ask said witness to bring forth key points of their statement. Enter the audition reassured that your questions will pull out solid content.

  Mock trial is not an easy club to join, and if you make it through the auditions victorious hard work will continue to come your way surely. But as long as you follow through on your responsibilities Mock Trial will hold more entertainment than anyone would have thought possible for one club.