Success Stories

2011 New York Statewide High School Mock Trial Tournament Winners
United States Magistrate Judge Randolph E. Treece is surrounded by members of the LEAH (Loving Education at Home) Schenectady Homeschool Mock Trial winning team. The team includes Laura Brincat, Michelle Brincat, Rebecca Cambron, Jon Panzera, Caleb Trouwborst, Leah Trouwborst, Teacher Coach Thomas Trouwborst, and Attorney Advisors Lauren Mack, Esq. and John Lockwood, Esq. The Final competition took place in front of Judge Treece at the James T. Foley Federal Courthouse in Albany. 

At the start of the Mock Trial season in early December 2010 there were over 300 teams from across New York State that began preparing and presenting a case in local tournaments. Local county winners then moved on to regional tournaments.  These six regional winners then were granted the opportunity to travel to Albany to compete against each other to see who would be named the best of the best in New York State.

The New York State High School Mock Trial Tournament is generously supported by The New York Bar Foundation and administered by the Law, Youth and Citizenship Committee of the New York State Bar Association and is one of the largest Mock Trial competitions in the country.

The goal of the Mock Trial Tournament is to further the knowledge and understanding of all aspects of law-related education. Mock Trial focuses on high school students across New York State and helps them understand the trial process by being an active participant in all phases of a case. The desired outcomes of the students’ experience are:

1. To increase understanding of the law, court procedures and our legal system.

2. To improve proficiency in basic life skills, such as listening, public speaking and reasoning.

3. To heighten appreciation for academic studies, raise academic standards and stimulate interest in law related careers.

4. To promote better communication and cooperation between the school community—administrators, teachers and students—and the legal profession.