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The Missouri High School Mock Trial Competition was founded by The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL) in 1979 and is BAMSL's longest-running program. The competition is financially supported by the Saint Louis Bar Foundation and the Missouri Lawyer Trust Account Foundation with program support from the Lawyers Association of Kansas City Young Lawyers Section and the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association.
As BAMSL's only statewide Law-Related Education program, the Missouri High School Mock Trial Competition annually serves more than 500 students from more than 40 schools throughout Missouri and is supported by up to 400 attorneys who volunteer as coaches, judges, and evaluators. The school that wins the Missouri State Championship has the opportunity to represent the State of Missouri at the National High School Mock Trial Championship.
Donate Volunteer Interest Form Team Registration (coming soon) New Team Stipend Request
2027 National Championship in St. Louis
What is mock trial?
The mock trials are structured like real courtroom trials and follow similar rules and procedures. High school students learn first-hand how the legal system works and what role judges, lawyers, juries, and witnesses play in the court system. This increased understanding helps students develop a deeper appreciation for our justice system and the administration of justice. The competition also helps students develop and improve their public speaking and critical thinking skills.
How do I start a team?
The High School Mock Trial Program is a wonderful opportunity for students of all backgrounds, but it needs dedicated teacher coaches willing to start teams at their schools. Each mock trial team is comprised of 6-10 students who compete as lawyers, witnesses, and timekeepers. Schools can have more than one team compete in the competition, allowing for more students to take part in the competition. During a trial, each team will have 3-4 student lawyers, 3 student witnesses, and 1 student timekeeper. Each team will compete at least twice, once as the plaintiff/prosecution, and once as the defense. Schools advancing past the preliminary rounds will try both sides of the same case again.
Teams also need a teacher coach to coordinate team logistics and practice times and spaces, and, ideally, an attorney coach to help the team with trial preparation and presentation. Teams set their own practice frequency and duration. BAMSL is available to assist teams with locating an attorney coach.
Team registration generally opens in early October and closes in early December. The case packet is typically available in late October or early November.
Resources
- How to Start a Team Info Sheet
- Borrow a copy of Championship Mock Trial: The Guide for Students and Coaches by Hon. David Nelmark and Justin Berstein (© 2022 American Bar Association). Email Danny Barnett-Foster today! Or learn how to buy your own copy.
How do I learn more?
Danny Barnett-Foster, Esq.
Missouri State Coordinator
2024-2025 Season
- Important Dates
- July 15, 2024
Pre-Season Listening Session
Recording - October 14, 2024
Team Registration Opens
Register Now - October 14, 2024 (Tentative)
Case Packet Released - December 6, 2024 @ 5 p.m.
Team Registration Closes - January 8, 2025
Deadline for payment of team registration fees - March 28-30, 2025 (Tentative)
State Championship (Independence, MO) - May 8-10, 2025
2025 National Championship (Phoenix, AZ) - May 7-9, 2026
2026 National Championship (Des Moines, IA) - May 13-15, 2027
2027 National Championship (St. Louis, MO)
- Contacts
- Columbia/Jefferson City Region
Danny Barnett-Foster
dbarnett@bamsl.org
314-485-3803 - Kansas City Region
Jordan May
JMay@sb-kc.com
Bryce Slaughter
bryce@kcimmigrationlaw.com - St. Louis Region
Danny Barnett-Foster
dbarnett@bamsl.org
314-485-3803 - Springfield/Ozark Region
Crista Hogan
Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association
chogan@springfieldbar.com
- Case Information
- Case Teaser — Criminal Case
For decades, Pinebrook High School and College City High School had been friendly cross-town rivals. This rivalry extended to their respective mock trial teams, both of which competed in the Missouri High School Mock Trial Competition (undoubtedly the best program in the nation). Both Pinebrook and College City enjoyed tremendous success, having each won multiple state championships. Yet, tensions between the schools' mock trial coaches threatened an otherwise friendly rivalry. Unfortunately, things took a dark turn in the Spring of 2023 when Julius Jones, one of the Pinebrook attorney coaches, was found dead. After an investigation, prosecutors have charged James Wild, head coach of the College City mock trial team, with first degree murder. Wild has maintained his innocence, claiming to have evidence that Jones' surviving spouse—now a multi-millionaire thanks to a lucrative life insurance policy—is the true killer.
With neither side interested in a plea deal, this matter seems destined for trial…
Witnesses
For the State of Missouri
• Lennon Ravensburger, teacher at Pinebrook High School
• Archer Fritz, homicide detective with the Pinebrook Police Department
• Harper Klein, stay at home parent
For the Defense
• Jess Fletcher, private investigator
• A.J. Still, freshman student at Truman State University
• Robin Atticus, human resource director with the U.S. Attorney's Office - 2025 Case Packet
Revised 1/29/2024 - The Paige Notes
Evidentiary IN's and OUT's
- Volunteers
- Volunteer Interest Form
- Schools looking for a coach:
Francis Howell North
Pattonville
Please email dbarnett@bamsl.org if you're interested in coaching. - Volunteer Guide
- Kansas City Region
- Preliminary Rounds: January 30 & February 1
Regionals: February 20 & February 22 - Eastern Jackson County Courthouse
308 W Kansas Ave
Independence, MO 64050 - 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
- Volunteer Sign-Up
- Springfield Region
- February 20, 22, and 27
- Evangel University
- 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
- Volunteer Sign-Up
- St. Louis Region
- Preliminary Round 1: January 14 & January 16
Preliminary Round 2: February 11 & February 13
Regionals: March 4 & March 6 - St. Louis County Circuit Court
105 S Central Ave
Saint Louis, MO 63105 - Team arrival: 5 p.m.
Volunteer arrival: 5:30 p.m.
Trials begin: 6 p.m. - Volunteer Sign-Up
- State Championship
- March 28 – 30 (tentative)
- St. Charles County Courthouse
300 North Second Street
Saint Charles, MO 63301 - Count of Schools Advancing:
Kansas City - 4
Springfield - 3
St. Louis - 9 - Volunteer Sign-Up
