MOCK TRIAL CLUB
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“
In law nothing is
certain, there are infinite possibilities. - Mr Jay
TABLE OF CONTENTS About
04
Testimonials
16
Roles
06
Mentors
18
Competitions
12
Join the Club
21
Team Success
15
Contact Us
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4 | About
ABOUT
The mock trial club is a competition in which students simulate a real trial in court. Students are able to debate about a fictional case in a professional manner, just like a lawyer. Our club offers education about the law from a professional lawyer, in a relaxed environment where you can build your life skills and play with friends.
MEETING TIMES
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Our meetings help you learn to play all the different roles in court to prepare you to become a lawyer in the future.
Important Meetings ● ● ●
First Wednesday of October Last Thursday of every month Every Wednesday from March to the OJEN competition.
Regular Meetings ●
Every Wednesday
Instruction is Provided On: ● ● ●
Playing different roles. Strategy in the courthouse. Standard court procedures.
6 | Roles
ROLES
There are many roles in mock trial, that can help you rehearse every part of a case in a court. We advise you to pick 1 or 2 roles every year to focus on so that you can master them in time for the competitions.
OPENING STATEMENT In the opening statement, the lawyer talks about what they will be arguing for/what their stance on the case is, and what evidence and witnesses. It can help you improve: 1.
Public speaking skills
2.
Ability to create main ideas
3.
Ability to create summaries of articles.
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8 | Roles
DIRECT EXAMINATION
A direct examination is an examination where the lawyer is asking their questions to their own witnesses. Your aim is to allow the witness to develop their own side of the story with preset questions and answers. It can help you improve: 1.
Ability to deduce important information in texts
2.
Writing/speaking structure.
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CROSS EXAMINATION A cross examination is an examination where the lawyer asks questions to the opposing witnesses. The lawyer must use leading questions to force the other witnesses into a trap so that they can poke holes in the other teams claim/story. It can helps improve: 1.
Quick thinking skills
2.
Writing/speaking structure
10 | Roles
CLOSING STATEMENT In the closing statement, each lawyer will give a summary of the evidence the judge heard on the key issues, and state the reasons why they deserve to win the trial. It can help improve: 1.
Public speaking skills
2.
Note taking skills
3.
Ability to discern important information and find flaws
4.
Critical thinking skills.
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WITNESS
The witness cooperates with the direct examination in order to prove themselves as not guilty and tries to make the job of the opposing cross examination as difficult as possible when being cross examined. They attempt to present themselves in the most innocent way possible. It can help improve: 1.
Public speaking skills
2.
Acting skills
3.
Quick thinking skills.
12| Competitions
COMPETITIONS
In the mock trial club, all of your efforts are for the purpose of winning in a massive competition at the end of the year. Throughout the year, we have a few competitions in order to prepare and give us some experience doing a trial against other schools.
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MAIN COMPETITION FROM OJEN
The OJEN mock trial tournament is the biggest mock trial tournament in Ontario. It began in 2016 and contains almost all the secondary schools located in the City of Ottawa. Every year, schools receive a custom case in March, and spend 2 months learning and creating their perspectives of the case.
14 | Competitions
OTHER COMPETITIONS Starting 2021, we have added 2 more competitions to our year. 1.
The Dominion mock trial competition A 4-round mock trial competition revolving around a criminal case dealing with 1st degree murder from November 26-28.
2.
The OHSMTA competition in collaboration with Merivale and Lisgard. A 3 school competition using past cases and custom cases at the beginning of March.
TEAM SUCCESS
Our team has been quite successful in the past, we have won the biggest competition of the year ⅓ times and we constantly get into the semifinals of the tournament.
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16 | Team Success
Celebrating after winning Mock Trial 2018
Posing with the trophy of Mock Trial
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Testimonials
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Learning with the
Mock Trial club has helped me to discover my talents and flaws to make myself the best version of me!
- Ammi Paul
18 | Testimonials
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Through my time in the mock
trial club family, I have learned a huge amount of practical skills. The mock trial family has supported all my endeavors, and was essential in my success throughout high school.
- Felix Zhou
Mentors
19 In the Colonel By Mock Trial Club, we have 2 mentors who have dedicated a lot of their time to help us get better at mock trial and improve ourselves. They have helped guide us to a championship in the biggest competition of the year and we are always very thankful to have them
20 | Mentors
Mr Parke Mr Parke is a biology and TOK Teacher. He supervises our mock trial club and comes to every meeting. He pushes to get us into every competition. As a TOK Teacher, Mr Parke helps to broaden our mind and think of new things in mock trial. Without Mr Parke, we will not be able to continue our club.
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Mr Jay Mr Jay is a professional lawyer, he represents large and small, Canadian and foreign communications and technology companies, advising them on issues related to copyright licensing and copyright liability. He comes in once a month to give us professional advice on our Mock Trial activities.
22| Join the Club
Join the club
Our club is joinable the whole year using the google form: https://forms.gle/s1v5TZa6xDb 8sTYC9 If you are interested in law, you must join our club. We’d love to have you in our mock trial family.
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Benefits Mock Trial has many benefits that will help your daily life: 1.
Improved Critical Thinking Skills
2.
Improved Articulation
3.
Quick-Thinking
4.
Finding Meaning in Complex Situations
5.
Presentation Skills
Mock Trial can also accommodate to your schedule, and you won’t have to go to every informal meeting.
24 | Contact Us
Contact Us Feel free to contact us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
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General Inquiries Club Email:
[email protected] Manager Email:
Location Colonel By Secondary School 2381 Ogilvie Rd, Gloucester, Ottawa, Ontario K1J 7N4 Room 202
[email protected] Executive emails: 1)
[email protected] 2)
[email protected]
Telephone 613-501-7412
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We look forward to seeing you at the Club