Mock Trial at Heritage Christian School
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:
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.
Mock Trial Season Overview & Competition Structure
The Mock Trial season begins in late October and runs through early March. Typically, HCS builds 4 to 5 separate teams to participate in this competitive event. After 3-4 months of intense preparation, the "regular season" consists of three trials on one long Saturday in February. A select few teams advance to the state finals, where they compete in four additional trials, culminating in a championship round for the Indiana state title.
Heritage’s Track Record
Since 1999, Heritage has built a strong reputation as one of the top five schools in the highly competitive Indiana High School Mock Trial program. Our teams have a remarkable history of success, winning the Indianapolis Regional competition more than ten times and consistently advancing multiple teams to the state finals. At least one team regularly finishes in the top 10 statewide.
Heritage has reached the championship trial three times and earned the state runner-up title twice. In 2022, one of our teams claimed the state championship and proudly represented Indiana at the National High School Mock Trial Championships.
Over the past five seasons, a Heritage team has finished in the top four each year, and our students have collectively earned more than a dozen individual awards. In 2025 alone, Heritage students took home five of the twenty Top 10 Best Attorney and Witness honors.
Who Can Join?
High School Mock Trial is open to students in grades 9-12. The season runs from mid-October through early March. Practices are held after school on Tuesdays and Fridays from 3:45 PM to 6:00 PM. Starting in January, additional Saturday morning practices are scheduled from 9:00 AM until noon or a little later to ensure that all teams are well-prepared for the competitions. Competitions occur on weekends in February and March.
Middle School Mock Trial is open to students in grades 6-8 and 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.
For more information on Heritage's Mock Trial program, contact Janice Houghton, Mock Trial Coach, at janice.houghton@heritagechristian.net. For more information about the Indiana Mock Trial program, visit the Indiana Bar Foundation website.
