The Mock Trial Competition is conducted by The Law Society of New South Wales and is a practical means of introducing students to the law and to increase understanding of the basis of our judicial system.

The competition aims to help students increase basic skills such as listening, speaking, writing, reading and analysing. The goal is to learn and understand the meaning of good citizenship through participation in our system of law and justice.

Registrations for the 2024 Competition are closed.

Click here to read the terms and conditions of entry for the 2024 Mock Law Competitions.

Who can participate

The Mock Trial Competition is open to students in years 10 and 11.

How the Competition works

Each team consists of 6 students who play the roles of barristers, solicitors, court officers, magistrate's clerks and witnesses.

For each round, schools will play the role of the Prosecution/Plaintiff or Defence team and be allocated against an opposition school. The Law Society will provide the 'case' for each round alternating between simple criminal and civil matters heard in the Local or District Court. The allocations, along with the materials for the round will be published on the Competition Updates page at the start of the round as specified in the  Competition timetable.  The materials will be password protected to ensure fairness and confidentiality with the relevant passwords being sent to the schools by the Mock Law Coordinator. 

Every round, other than the Grand Final, takes place virtually. Each trial is presided over by a Magistrate (a volunteer solicitor or barrister from the legal profession who will be allocated by the Law Society), who awards marks to each team based on a range of criteria, such as opening addresses, closing submissions and cross examinations. The team with the highest mark wins the trial.

It is up to schools to organise the time and place of their trial with their opposition and allocated Magistrate and return their scores to the Law Society by the due date specified in the Competition timetable.

Any amendments or changes to scripts or timetables are emailed immediately to teachers.