Talani Silpao, an attorney for the Waukesha South High School mock trial team, makes an argument for the defense in the 2023 State Finals tournament in Madison at the State Capitol.

The State Bar of Wisconsin’s 2025 High School Mock Trial ​Tournament is on – and students across Wisconsin must determine which player is guilty of homicide.

The program needs volunteers – whether practicing attorneys or judges on the bench – to act as tournament judges for competitions across Wisconsin in early February and in Madison this March. To volunteer, visit the Mock Trial volunteer page.

The State Bar’s High School Mock Trial program teaches students how the court system really works – by doing what lawyers do: try (fictitious) cases firmly grounded in the facts and the law, in front of a neutral arbiter. The tournament is made possible with grants from the Wisconsin Law Foundation.

We Need Volunteer Judges: No Experience Necessary

Volunteers – whether practicing attorneys or judges on the bench – are needed. Training is provided. Volunteer judges are needed for:

• Statewide regional competitions on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. Sessions run in the morning (9 a.m. to noon) and afternoon (1 to 5 p.m.). Volunteers are needed in these regions: Appleton, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Juneau, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee, Racine, Waukesha, and Wausau.

• Semifinal competitions in Madison on Friday and Saturday, March 7 and 8, 2025. Session times are Friday, March 7, from 5 to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, March 8, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Generally, volunteers choose to be judges for either the morning or afternoon competitions, but you can choose to volunteer for both sessions.

All volunteer judges will receive a copy of the Mock Trial Handbook and case materials to review beforehand. You can preview the “Judge’s Training Video” online at your convenience and you will be provided scoring instructions along with a brief training on the day of the tournament.

To volunteer, visit the Mock Trial volunteer page, and fill out the form. If you have questions, contact Katie Wilcox by email or by phone at (608) 250-6191, or (800) 444-9404, ext. 6191.

Why Mock Trial Matters

Founded in 1983, the program helps students gain a deeper understanding of the legal system while developing leadership skills, critical thinking, problem-solving, public speaking, and working under pressure as part of a team. The program is a great pathway to the legal profession.

Last year, close to 100 teams competed in the High School Mock Trial regional tournament across Wisconsin. This year, the regional tournaments take place Feb. 1, 2025. The top two teams in each region – 20 teams – will go on to compete in the semifinal tournament March 7-8, with the top two teams competing in the state finals on March 9, 2025. The state finalist team will compete in the national tournament in Phoenix, Arizona, in May 2025.

Mock Trial: Funded by the Wisconsin Law Foundation

The Wisconsin High School Mock Trial Tournament is a State Bar of Wisconsin program funded by the Wisconsin Law Foundation, the charitable arm of the State Bar.

The Wisconsin High School Mock Trial program is funded by a generous grant from the Wisconsin Law Foundation, the charitable arm of the State Bar of Wisconsin, supporting law-related education and public service programs statewide. Donations to the Wisconsin Law Foundation’s Mock Trial Fund can be made online at wisbar.org/wlfdonate.