Mock Trial
Competition
Introduced in 1981, The Law Society of NSW Mock Trial Competition provides high school students with an introduction to the NSW judicial system through their participation in true-to-life court cases, and the opportunity to develop their advocacy and problem-solving skills.
Registrations for the 2026 competition are now closed.
Jump to: About the competition | Round materials | Volunteers
About the competition
The competition is open to high school students in years 10 and 11. Each school may enter a team of six students to take on the roles of Barristers, Solicitors, Witnesses, Court Officers and Magistrate's Clerks.
The competition consists of eight rounds. The first three rounds take place on a round-robin basis. The top 32 scoring teams then continue on to the elimination rounds. The Competition Timetable details the dates for each round.
Scenarios will alternate between civil and criminal cases, with schools having the opportunity to act as Plaintiff/Prosecution and Defence.
Each trial will be presided over by a Magistrate who will be a volunteer member of the profession. It is up to the schools to determine a suitable time and place for their trial with their allocated Magistrate.
For more information about the Competition, please refer to the Mock Trial Manual.
Round materials
Round one commences on Tuesday 3 March 2026, and results are due by Friday 27 March 2026.
Volunteer for the Competition
The Mock Trial competition relies on volunteer members of the profession to participate as Magistrates and Script Writers.
By volunteering, you are helping high school students go beyond the legal studies curriculum and further advance their legal skills and knowledge by sharing your first-hand experience with the law and raising awareness of what a legal career can look like.
If you are interested in volunteering, please refer to the materials below for further information and guidance.
If you have any questions, please contact us at mocklaw@lawsociety.com.au.