Frequently Asked Questions

We host tryouts in the beginning of the Fall semester. Click here for more information on this year's tryouts, or email our Vice President External, Anna Fleck.

If you miss tryouts, contact our Vice President External, Anna Fleck.  

Members of the Illinois Trial Team have about 9 hours of scheduled practice time a week. Within the Illinois Trial Team there are 3 teams of varying competitiveness requiring different levels of time commitment. The competitive season lasts from September until around April. During that time, members will travel to competitions held across the nation. Members of the Illinois Trial Team can receive 3 credit hours that count toward overall graduation requirements.

No! Plenty of our members aren't pre-law and don't intend to do anything law-related after graduation. Mock trial is a great way to build confidence, communication skills, teamwork, and so many more transferrable skills. Not only that, but mock trial provides a great community of people on campus with lots of fun social events!

Nope! In fact, most of our team had never done mock trial before joining the Illinois Trial Team.  

Our dues are $250 plus $45 social dues to attend our social events. However, we are flexible and are absolutely willing to work with you if cost is an issue.  

Competitors can portray either a witness or an attorney in a given round. There are 3 attorneys and 3 witnesses per side. Attorneys will direct examine one of their team’s witnesses and cross examine one of the opposing team’s witnesses. In a direct examination, attorneys are trying to allow their witness to tell their side of the story through the use of open-ended questions. During cross examination, attorneys are trying to discredit the opposing witness or their testimony primarily through leading questions. Some attorneys will give an opening statement or closing argument. They will also object to the opposing team when it is appropriate. Witnesses will learn their affidavits written in the case packet, perform a direct examination with their attorney, and maintain their credibility and composure during cross examination. Witnesses must create and maintain an engaging character all while remembering the information their team needs on the record.

After the Fall Invitational Season, all the Invitational Captains will stack all the members of the Illinois Trial Team onto 3 teams: Blue, Orange, and Silver. During this meeting, they'll decide who will be attorneys, witnesses, or both depending on the member's preferences, their performance, and the level of involvement they want on the team. 

Each of the 3 teams within the Illinois Trial Team travel a different amount. Blue travels and competes the most and Silver travels and competes the least. In the past, we've visited Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis, Yale, UCLA, Duke, Cincinnati, and many more!

The Illinois Trial Team hosts all kinds of different social events throughout the year all planned by our wonderful Social Committee: Alisha Thomas, Avah Kizilbash, Saniya Dawkins, and Lilly Pickerill. We have holiday parties, bowling nights, study halls, coffee dates, and more.