ISBA Center for Law & Civic Education

 The mission of the ISBA Center for Law & Civic Education is to serve attorneys, educators, students, and the public as a permanent state resource on law and civic education. The Center designs and implements programs that enhance citizenship, individual understanding of the law, and democratic values. Through a variety of law and civic education programs, the Center helps students develop the necessary skills to participate in a democratic society. With its programs and projects, the Center provides a link between attorneys and the communities they serve. Funds from this grant request will specifically be used to support the ISBA’s Mock Trial Program which serves more than 4,000 students from more than 250 schools around the state.

In a mock trial, students play the roles of attorneys and witnesses as they prepare and present both sides of the hypothetical legal problem. Participants present their arguments before real attorneys and judges, who not only rule on the legal merits of the case but also evaluate and critique student skills. Through mock trial, participants get a hands-on opportunity to examine legal processes and current legal issues. In addition to providing familiarity with the law, mock trials also help students develop important critical thinking skills and aid in the development of fundamental research, preparation, and presentation skills.

Mock trials encourage the involvement of outside resource persons in the classrooms. To help prepare students for this activity, teachers call upon lawyers, judges, law students, and other legal professionals to work with participants on the various aspects of preparing a case and conducting a trial. Many lawyers and judges serve as attorney-coaches and work alongside teachers on a regular basis to provide guidance and expertise.

Since 1983, the Iowa Mock Trial Program has given thousands of students the opportunity to get a closer look at the judicial process. The Iowa program remains among the largest in the nation, and one of very few to offer the mock trial experience to middle school students.

The Mock Trial Program offers a separate competition for students in grades 6-8 and 9-12. The Middle School program takes place each fall, with a special coach’s clinic in September, regional competitions in early November, and the state championship tournament held every year in late November. The high school program features a clinic for coaches and students in January, regional tournaments in early March, and the state championship in late March. The high school champion represents Iowa at the annual National High School Mock Trial Championship.

The ISBA believes that the Mock Trial Program is exemplary of the organization’s mission and vision. It provides multiple avenues for collegial civic involvement in addition to educating youth and teachers through this hands-on program. Such opportunities give youth and adults greater understanding of the legal process, and the profession’s standing within the communities where lawyers live and work can be greatly enhanced.