Trial Advocacy | School of Law | SIU

Trial Advocacy

Students in their second and third year of law school are eligible to participate in the Mock Trial Program. Selection occurs through a tryout process. Participants are selected by the faculty advisor with the advice of the Mock Trial Board. Students participate in at least one interschool competition per semester. They also administer intraschool competitions, such as the Opening Statement Competition or Closing Argument Competition. All team members serve as mentors and trainers to students who are interested in trying out for the team the next year. All team members participate in administrative and training tasks. Enrollment in the Advanced Mock Trial course and program is capped at eight students per year. Each student receives two credit hours per semester, for a maximum of six credit hours. 

In recent years, SIU law students have competed in many locations, including Chicago, San Francisco, Sacramento, Santa Monica, Buffalo, Louisville, St. Louis, Kansas City, Champaign, DeKalb, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.