National High School Mock Trial Championship

A national high school competition where students simulate courtroom trials, taking on legal roles to deepen understanding of the U.S. judicial system. It is hosted annually by NHSMTC with champion teams from all states and some territories competing for the national title.

The National High School Mock Trial Championship (NHSMTC), organized by the NHSMTC Board of Directors, is a prestigious national competition founded in 1984 where high school students simulate courtroom trials. Students take roles as attorneys and witnesses to present and argue a fictional legal case using real trial procedures. It fosters critical thinking, public speaking, teamwork, and legal reasoning while deepening understanding of the U.S. judicial system through competition among state champion teams and territories.

Competition Details

Judging Criteria

Teams are evaluated by panels including judges and attorney evaluators during each round. Students are scored on criteria such as knowledge and application of the case facts and law, clarity and effectiveness of arguments, courtroom decorum, preparation, teamwork, and the ability to adapt and respond to opposing teams. Matches include both prosecution/plaintiff and defense sides, with teams guaranteed to present on both sides in preliminary rounds. A power-matching system ranks teams after preliminary rounds. The two highest-ranked teams advance to the final championship round where the national winner is decided.