Send SJSU Mock Trial Back Past Regionals

We wake up at 4am to drive to tournaments, and we work past midnight preparing our cases. SJSU Mock Trial does not cut and does not charge membership fees. We want the team open to anyone who wants to learn the legal process or practice public speaking.

Three years ago, our A Team made it past regionals in Fresno, beating teams from UC Berkeley and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to reach the Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS). We did it without the backing of a law school. Our team was founded just seven years ago, and our coaches are former members who came back to help.

Since then, many of our top members have graduated. This year, we have rich experiences on the team again, but not enough funds to cover tournament registration. Many of our members work and pay their own bills in addition to being full-time students.

Our team also wants to treat our members right. Madison, a fellow team member, pays for all their own bills to cover lodging, groceries, tuition. In addition to being a full time student, she spends a considerable amount of time with the team, reading and writing content during spare time, and dropping in to help support our less experienced team members.

These are sacrifices our members had to make even when we were in a better financial position. Unfortunately, in Mock Trial, tournaments are everything financially, and at this time, we have been unable to host one. This is simply not sustainable. We would like to make it back past regionals to put our name out there again.

About 70% of what we raise covers tournament registration, and about 20% covers gas and lodging when we drive to tournaments as far as San Diego. Our goal is $1,500, and our stretch goal is $2,000, will allow more members to compete without struggling with finances and will also give us the opportunity to build a third team for 2027-28. Support this incredible life skill and give by December 1!