Acting, persuasion, quick thinking and above all, teamwork—the essential elements of a successful Mock Trial team. Mock trial is a student competition that imitates a real trial, highlighting the aspects of a case and objections.
Each fall for the past eight years, Heritage has brought underclassmen to Harvard’s student-run Mock Trial seminar. This program is a key learning opportunity for individuals interested in competing formally in the future. “We’re taking kids who, for the most part, don’t have any experience, or limited experience, in Mock Trial–-kids who aren’t quite sure if this is for them or not–-and giving them a good experience and a bit of background,” said Judge Usan, co-head of the team.
The Harvard seminar consists of a two-day intensive program with focused lectures and breakout sessions. Each of the lectures develop a different structural part of a case; this knowledge is then applied during breakout sessions, where groups work on developing their own specific roles including delivering openers, conducting direct and cross examination, playing a witness and presenting closing arguments.
At the end of the two days, students have an opportunity to present their case during a Mock Trial scrimmage. This round is hosted and judged by the Harvard Undergraduate Mock Trial Association and offers a place for constructive feedback.
This year, two Heritage teams attended the Harvard Seminar. “It’s just grown, every year,” Judge Haimes, co-head of the team, said. “The first year we had 17 or 18 kids try out, and this year it went all the way up to 50. It’s just gotten so much bigger, and the best part is that the kids all connect.”
Traveling to Boston gave students the opportunity to experience a change in scenery. “What really struck me about [this city] was that there were seasons there, and the leaves were beautiful,” said freshman participant Avah Roberts.
The day after flying in, students attended the first sessions of the seminar and hit the highlights of Harvard Square. “The students that were teaching us [the lectures] really did know their stuff; that exceeded my expectations,” said freshman Matias Lazzaro.
The following day, participants worked hard to finish preparing and familiarizing themselves with their scripts. “I loved it,” said sophomore Max Eckert after landing back in Florida “I’d do it 100 times over.” The Harvard Mock Trial trip was an unforgettable memory.
After a long day at work in their breakout sessions and lectures, the November team attends a variety of staple local restaurants for dinner each night of their stay. The restaurant pictured above was rated the “Best Burgers in the US,” with a variety of changing pop-culture-named dishes. (Photo/David Haines, Mrs. Haimes, Michael Usan)
With a hotel further away from Harvard, the October group commutes every morning via subway to get to the campus. Being in a different location, they had the opportunity to try other restaurants not normally on the itinerary. (Photo/David Haines, Mrs. Haimes, Michael Usan)
