6 Mock Trial Competition Preparation Kits That Teach Real Legal Strategy

Your teen comes home buzzing with excitement after their first mock trial meeting, talking about objections, witnesses, and a case they have to prepare. You want to be supportive, but the world of legal strategy and competition can feel intimidating and opaque from the outside. Understanding the different preparation materials available is the first step in helping them turn that initial spark into a real, skill-building passion.

Building a Foundation for Trial Advocacy Skills

When your child joins a mock trial team, they’re not just memorizing a script; they’re learning to think on their feet. A good case packet is the training ground for this. It provides the raw material—the facts, the witness statements, the evidence—that they will use to build arguments, anticipate counter-arguments, and collaborate with a team.

Think of it like learning an instrument. You wouldn’t hand a beginner a complex concerto. Similarly, the right mock trial kit should match your student’s current stage. For a new team or a younger student, the goal is to grasp the fundamentals: how to structure a question, how to portray a witness, and the basic flow of a trial. More advanced kits are for students who have those basics down and are ready to wrestle with nuanced legal theories and complex evidentiary challenges.

The key is to see these kits not as a one-time purchase but as part of a learning progression. The goal is to find a resource that provides just enough challenge to stretch their skills without causing frustration. The best foundation is built with material that is engaging and accessible, allowing confidence to grow alongside competence.

NHSMTC Case for National-Level Competition

If your child’s team has its sights set on the big stage, the National High School Mock Trial Championship (NHSMTC) case is the gold standard. This is the material used in the national tournament each year, and it’s designed to test the best teams from every state. The fact patterns are intricate, the witness statements are deliberately ambiguous, and the legal issues are sophisticated.

This is not a starter kit. The NHSMTC case assumes a high level of familiarity with courtroom procedure and the rules of evidence. It’s built for teams with experienced coaches who can guide students through layers of strategic analysis. Using this case is a signal that a team is serious about competing at the highest level and is ready to dedicate significant time to preparation.

For parents, supporting a child on a team using this material means recognizing the commitment required. It involves long practice hours, deep research, and intense collaboration. It’s an incredible opportunity for growth, but it’s best suited for students who have already demonstrated a strong and sustained interest in mock trial.

AMTA Case Packet for Collegiate Mock Trial Teams

Has your high school student mastered their state-level competition and is looking for the next challenge? The American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) case packet, designed for college teams, can be an excellent resource for an advanced high school team seeking to push its limits. These cases often involve more complex legal themes, such as intricate corporate fraud or nuanced civil rights issues, and feature a larger volume of evidence.

Working with an AMTA case can give a seasoned high school team a preview of the next level of competition. It forces them to manage more information and develop more sophisticated arguments. However, this complexity can be a double-edged sword. It can be overwhelming for less experienced teams and may not align with the style of judging or rules used in their local high school tournaments.

Consider this the "honors level" of preparation. It’s a fantastic tool for a veteran team in the off-season or for students who are actively preparing to compete in college. For most high school teams, sticking to materials designed for their specific competitive level is the most effective path to success.

Street Law, Inc. Cases for Classroom Learning

Perhaps your child’s interest is just beginning, or they are part of a new club at a middle school or early in high school. This is where materials from organizations like Street Law, Inc. shine. These cases are specifically designed for educational settings, not just for intense competition. The primary goal is to teach core legal and civic concepts in an accessible way.

Street Law cases often come with teacher guides, simplified rules of evidence, and clear learning objectives. They are perfect for introducing students to the roles of attorneys and witnesses without the high-pressure environment of a formal tournament. The cases are typically shorter, the facts are more straightforward, and the focus is on participation and understanding.

This is the ideal "try it on for size" option. It allows students to explore an interest in law and public speaking without a massive time commitment. If you’re a parent helping a teacher get a new program off the ground, or if your child wants to practice with friends, these kits provide a structured, low-risk way to engage with the activity.

CRF’s Mock Trial Kit for State Competitions

For the vast majority of high school teams across the country, the materials provided by organizations like the Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF) are the bedrock of their season. CRF and similar state-level organizers create the official cases used in most state and local competitions. These kits are expertly balanced to be accessible to newer members while still offering strategic depth for varsity competitors.

These packets represent the sweet spot in mock trial preparation. They are complex enough to be interesting for a full season but not so convoluted that they discourage participation. The witness roles are well-defined, the evidence is manageable, and the legal arguments are grounded in concepts that high school students can readily grasp and debate.

When your child’s team uses their official state-provided case, you can be confident they are working with a high-quality, vetted resource. It ensures they are preparing for the specific format and rules they will encounter in competition. This is the core curriculum of high school mock trial, and mastering it is the key to a successful season.

Pairing NITA’s ‘Trial Techniques‘ with a Case

Your child has the case down cold. They know every fact and every witness statement. But are they just reciting information, or are they persuading? This is where supplemental resources, like the National Institute for Trial Advocacy’s (NITA) textbook Trial Techniques, become invaluable.

A case packet provides the what—the story. A book on trial technique teaches the how—how to conduct a powerful cross-examination, how to deliver a compelling closing argument, or how to lay the foundation to get a piece of evidence admitted. It’s the difference between knowing the notes and making music. This type of resource helps a student move from being a participant to being a true advocate.

This is a fantastic investment for the self-motivated student who wants to deepen their craft. It’s also a powerful tool for a coach to use with the entire team. Instead of just practicing the case, they can run drills on specific skills, like impeaching a witness or making a proper objection. Pairing a skills book with a case packet elevates a team’s performance from competent to commanding.

Empire Mock Trial Cases for Advanced Strategy

Is your child on a nationally-ranked team that travels to prestigious invitational tournaments? If so, you’ve likely heard of Empire Mock Trial. Empire creates some of the most complex and challenging mock trial cases in the world, designed specifically for these elite-level events. These cases are known for their incredible depth, massive amounts of discovery, and cutting-edge legal issues.

Tackling an Empire case is the mock trial equivalent of a postgraduate seminar. It requires immense dedication, sophisticated strategic planning, and a deep understanding of evidentiary rules. These cases are built to be "unbreakable," meaning there is no single, obvious path to victory, forcing teams to be incredibly creative and adaptable.

This is a resource for the top 1% of mock trial competitors. For any other team, attempting an Empire case too early can lead to burnout and frustration. It’s a fantastic goal for a program to aspire to, but it’s crucial to build up to this level. Success in mock trial comes from mastering the fundamentals before tackling the most complex material available.

Integrating Rules of Evidence with Your Prep Kit

Imagine trying to play a basketball game without knowing what a foul is. That’s what it’s like to do mock trial without understanding the Rules of Evidence. Every case packet, from the simplest classroom exercise to the most complex national case, is governed by a set of rules that dictate what information a jury is allowed to hear.

Most competitions use a modified and simplified version of the Federal Rules of Evidence. Understanding these rules—like hearsay, relevance, and improper character evidence—is what allows a student to make strategic objections and protect their own witnesses. It is the single biggest differentiator between novice and veteran teams.

As a parent, you can support this by encouraging your child to spend as much time studying the rules as they do their witness statements. A team that knows the rules can control the flow of information in a trial. Mastering the case is about knowing the story; mastering the rules is about knowing how to tell it effectively and legally.

Ultimately, the best mock trial kit is the one that meets your child where they are and provides the right level of challenge to keep them engaged and growing. The skills they learn—critical thinking, public speaking, and teamwork—will serve them far beyond any courtroom, making your investment in their preparation a wise one, no matter which path they choose.