HOW TO JOIN
2024-2025 season
TRYouts
If you are interested in joining our team this season, we will be hosting tryouts from September 3-5th, 2024 from 7-10PM. You will sign up for a 10-minute slot within that time. Tryouts will be hosted in Thwing 301 & 302, with any changes shared via email ASAP. To receive our tryout materials + sign up sheet, as well as more information or any other questions, contact our VP of Recruitment and Internal Affairs, Aaron Sinclair at aas336@case.edu. Stay up to date by following our Instagram & TikTok (@cwrumocktrial)!
frequently Asked questions
What is the time commitment?
We practice at least 2 nights during the week, each practice lasting about 2-3 hours, and attend tournaments about 3 weekends a semester. Students also spend time outside of practice with their partners or on their own, especially in the weeks leading up to tournaments. Although mock trial is a top priority for everyone on the team, our members are also extremely involved on campus, participating in student government, Greek life, and other student organizations.
WHAT ARE TRYOUTS LIKE?
You'll receive a tryout packet, which includes four short (2-3 minutes each) sections designed to test the different skills Mock Trial requires. You will start by meeting our Executive Board in a light, interview-like style before moving on to the main audition where our coaches will watch and evaluate your performance.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
When observing your tryout, the coaches are considering your public speaking skills, your ability to think on your feet, your commitment, and your confidence, all of which show potential for success in Mock Trial. We expect students to come to tryouts prepared, but we do not expect perfection! We're looking for students with potential who are willing to put in the time and effort to build these skills to strengthen our team.
do you take students that aren't freshmen?
Yes!
AM I REQUIRED TO HAVE HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL EXPERIENCE?
Nope! Many members of the team started participating in mock trial in college.
How much does joining mock trial cost?
Nothing! One of the great parts of CWRUMT is that we do not charge dues to be part of this program. Travel costs and hotel expenses are covered by the program. However, we do require that all members own a suit. Suits are our competition uniform; just like football players wear padding and jerseys on the field, we wear suits in the courtroom. Members do pay for their own meals when traveling. We do not want finances to be a barrier for our students, so if purchasing a suit or paying for meals off-campus will be burdensome, please contact one of the coaches, we’re happy to work something out.
What is travel like?
We typically travel in vans or cars. We tend to keep our tournaments within an eight hour drive, though many are shorter. In the past seasons, we’ve traveled to cities like Columbus, Ann Arbor, Buffalo, and Chicago. We have also traveled to Georgia, Connecticut, Florida, Wisconsin, and New York City. We generally leave on Fridays and return on Sunday night, though some tournaments require Thursday travel. Every member travels to each tournament to which they are assigned.