Excellence, in court and beyond.
Michigan State Mock Trial is MSU’s premier public speaking and debate team. Every year, our team of Spartans from 20+ majors puts together a full legal case. Through AMTA, the American Mock Trial Association, MSUMT takes our case and competes against teams from across the country at tournaments. In February, the team begins the road to the National Championship Tournament by working hard to advance through multiple levels of competition. More importantly, our team builds a community of Spartans at Michigan State, one that is dedicated to excellence, in court and beyond.
Who We Are
Our team is made up of a tight-knit group of 35 Spartans from 25+ majors. From Neuroscience to Political Theory, our Spartans do it all. You don’t have to want to go to law school to be a member of MSUMT, in fact, 40% of our team has post-grad plans in Education, Medicine, Performing Arts, and Business.
What We Do
Mock Trial is a national collegiate activity. Teams are given a legal case, complete with witness affidavits, evidence, and the Rules of Evidence. With these materials, teams must then prepare a case for both the prosecuting and defending parties that includes opening statements, direct examinations, cross examinations, objections, and closing arguments. These cases are put to the test at invitationals, where teams from different colleges across the country go head to head, being judged by attorneys and judges. These invitationals cumulate in 2 advancing tournaments- Regionals and ORCS, which teams must break out of to compete at the annual National Championship Tournament. The NCT features the country’s best teams competing against one another to be that years AMTA National Champions. To learn more about what mock trial is and how we do it, click here.
How to Join
Every fall, MSUMT welcomes new Spartans to our team! Recruitment begins at fall events such as Sparticipation and the James Madison Club Fair, and ends with an audition in front of our Team Selection Committee. Click here to find out how to join the team.
Contact Us
Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Email
spartanmocktrial1@gmail.com