Student Organization Spotlight: Mock Trial
The SDSU Mock Trial team gives students an opportunity to act as lawyers in a stimulated setting.
Through the organization, members receive simulated courtroom experience, gain access to internship opportunities and network with professionals in the legal field.
Founding president Connor Hume launched the organization in October 2015 with the help of Megan Hanson, Kat Hupke and Gaby Rosales.
Hume said the highlight of his time with the organization has been competitions even though they can be stressful.
“During competitions, the entire team bonds to a much deeper level than I would ever have imagined,” Hume said. “It’s so incredibly cool to see all these people working hard for a common goal.”
Is Mock Trial open to all majors or is it major specific?
Similar to law schools, we are open to any and all majors. Even those who aren’t interested in law school but enjoy performing are encouraged to check us out.
When it comes to finding new members for your organization, what type of students are you looking for?
We ask that the student is passionate. Mock Trial is hard work and does require a time commitment. At the same time, that time commitment is something we hope our members enjoy. The work we do is fun, and we never want to waste anyone’s time. We are goal-oriented on the task of performing well at competition.
When are your meetings and is there a membership fee?
We charge $40 for a year, but we provide a realistic experience of being a lawyer without actually going to law school. It gives students the best idea about whether this is something they would want to pursue as a career. After participating for a year, we hope our members will be more confident in knowing if they should spend three years on a legal education.
How can students find more information about your organization?
Students can visit our website, send us an email at [email protected] or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
What kind of activities does your organization attend?
We wrapped up our final competition for the year where we were mere single digit points from advancing. This was a huge improvement from last year. Next year, we plan to attend twice as many competitions to provide more opportunities for students to compete. Additionally, we visit law firms and bring in top San Diego attorneys to network with our members.
What impact have SDSU faculty made on your organization?
We could never have had an organization like this without the immense support we receive from both faculty and alumni. We were blessed to have the political science department put on a fundraiser for us this past summer and are hoping to do something like that again.
