Are you interested in public speaking, law, government or even acting? If so, then Walpole High School’s Mock Trial Club is the club for you! The club meets twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays for about three months, from roughly November until February. Using a universal packet,  the club receives, students in the club produce an argument and use this when they compete against other teams in their round. The team is split into two, one side Defense and one side Plaintiff, similar to roles in a real  court.

“Students assume the role of lawyers and witnesses, playing out the court case as if it is happening in real life. It’s a combination of critical thinking, passion for speaking and willingness to be spontaneous.” said Nirjara Akkole, one of Mock Trials club captains.

They exercise asking and responding to questions in the mindset of a lawyer, talking to volunteer lawyers and analyzing the case the club was given as a team. Not only do they get to experience what it would be like to be a lawyer, they also travel throughout the state to different courtrooms where they get to put their hard work into action. 

“We get to visit real courthouses in Massachusetts to compete against teams from other schools. Through these trials, we get to experience what it feels like to argue a case in a realistic setting.” said captain Sarah Mukkuzhi “It truly is an extraordinary opportunity to really immerse yourself in what it feels like to actively participate in a trial.” 

Students create a welcoming environment while they work to complete and analyze different parts of their case. They make sure they are helping and encouraging each other to create a strong team bond. 

The WHS Mock Trial team is super easy to join! Just reach out to club advisor Phillip Balkus or the club captains, Nirjara Akkole, Sarah Mukkuzhi and Unnati Tandan for more information.