Mock Trial
In Mock Trial, students work side by side with local, real life attorneys and other professionals as their coaches to prepare a fictional civil or criminal case for trial at regional and state competitions.
The Indiana Bar Foundation released the video above to promote participation in the Indiana High School Mock Trial program, and it highlights several members of our HCS community.
What Do We Do?
Students work together in teams of six to eight to develop case theory and effective lines of questioning for both sides of the legal case. Students playing attorneys learn and use actual Federal Rules of Evidence in presenting their case. Other students take on witness roles, learning the details of a particular character and developing a convincing personality.
Students develop and refine a number of skill-sets important for college and life, including:
- logical/analytical reasoning
- public speaking
- the power of persuasion
- communication in a dynamic team environment
- the ability to observe, analyze and compare a multitude of facts and details from different perspectives
Because every trial is unique, Mock Trial cultivates exceptional confidence, poise and the ability to think on one’s feet while under pressure.
Additionally, students often say one of the best aspects of Mock Trial is how all the fun, laughter and bonding with teammates, developed through intense practices and trials, results in memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. This is one reason that many Mock Trial alumni frequently return to support the Mock Trial program long after graduating.
Program Structure & Success
High School Mock Trial
Open to students in grades 9-12
Heritage fields 4-5 teams each year, with the season running from mid-October through early March. Students prepare as attorneys and witnesses, studying case materials and building courtroom skills.
Practices are held Tuesdays and Fridays after school with Saturday mornings added in January for final preparation.
All teams compete in three regular-season trials on one Saturday in February. Top teams advance to the Indiana State Finals, with the opportunity to compete in up to four additional trials for the state title.
Middle School Mock Trial
Open to students in grades 6-8
The season runs as a 6-week after-school club designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of Mock Trial.
High school team members serve as coaches and mentors, guiding the younger students through the process.
Participants work together to prepare one side of a mini-case and conclude the season with an evening performance for family and friends.
Program Legacy
- Among Indiana’s top five programs since 1999
- 10+ Indianapolis Regional championships
- Consistent state finalist with top-10 placements
Major Achievements
- 2022 Indiana State Champions
- Two-time State Runner-Up
- Reached championship trial 3 times
- Heritage is one of only a few schools to advance multiple teams to state in the same year
Recent Success
- Top 4 in the state every year for the past five seasons
- 12+ individual awards in recent years
- 2025: Five students earned Top Attorney/Witness honors
No matter where a team ranks at the end of a competition, every single team member has gained valuable life skills in analytical reading and thinking, poise and confidence, public speaking, the ability to “think on your feet” and how to stand firm in the face of opposition. What wonderful skills to equip our students to be powerful witnesses of God’s grace in our contentious world!
— Janice Houghton, HCS Mock Trial Coordinator
For more information on Heritage's Mock Trial program, contact Janice Houghton, HCS Mock Trial Coach, at janice.houghton@heritagechristian.net. For more information about the Indiana Mock Trial program, visit the Indiana Bar Foundation website.
