Join the Mock Trial Team
Mock trial auditions
There are two ways to audition for our team. If you want to apply for a mock trial award, you will fill out our award application form and schedule a thirty-minute audition with our coaches. The audition will consist of three parts:
- a 5-7 minute prepared speech
- a 2-3 minute extemporaneous speech
- a 15-20 minute chat about Cornell’s mock trial team.
Auditions can happen either over Zoom or in person. During your audition, we will be evaluating you on your performance skills and on your ability to think critically on the fly. For more information about audition pieces, please see our award audition process document.
If you want to wait until you arrive at Cornell to audition for the team, you will audition during the first or second week of class, but please note that opportunities to join the team this way might be limited. For these auditions, you will prepare a brief 3–5 minute audition piece. The audition piece can be anything from a dramatic prose piece to an informational or persuasive speech on a topic of your choosing. The subject is not important, but the presentation is. Anyone who is looking to meet new people and get involved in a highly competitive intercollegiate speech competition is welcome to audition.
Sample mock trial competition schedule
Mockers compete at regional tournaments hosted by other private colleges and public universities. Generous supporters of our program cover all of our travel-related costs, which allows us to travel and compete in exciting venues. Depending on your squad placement you may participate in all or some of our tournaments.
2022-2023 competition schedule
Oct. 8-9: University of Arkansas Mock Hogs Invitational
Oct. 15-16: Washington University Arches Mock Trial Tournament
Oct. 21-23: Drake University Rickard Calkins Mock Trial Invitational
Nov. 5-6: St. Olaf Ole Open Mock Trial Invitational
Nov. 12-23: Northwestern University Mock at the Rock Invitational
Dec. 2-4: Central College Dr. Donald P. Racheter Mock Trial Invitational
Jan. 21-22: Indiana University Hoosier Hoedown Mock Trial Invitational
Jan. 28-29: University of Nebraska Scarlet and Cream Mock Trial Invitational
Feb. 2-4: Regional Competition at Drake University
Mar. 10-12: Opening Round Championship Series Tournament at Macalester College
Apr. 14-16: National Championship at Rhodes College