A Nationally Ranked Student Run Program.
A Nationally-Ranked Program
Founded by two undergraduate students in 2007, University of Massachusetts Amherst Mock Trial is an American Mock Trial Association intercollegiate team competing in strategy and performance-based legal education tournaments. The team is completely student-run, operating without any administrative or educational aid from faculty or outside organizations. Our dedicated team of students is a dynamic group of undergraduate students passionate about law, trial advocacy, and public speaking, committed to excellence in every aspect of our work. The Program has qualified to the Open Round Championship Series every year placing in the top 150 programs Nationally. UMAMT competitors have earned accolades as both Attorneys and Witnesses at various levels, with several being named All-Regional and All-National competitors by the American Mock Trial Association. Our alumni have secured admissions into prestigious law schools like The UCLA School of Law, Northeastern University School of Law, and Georgetown Law. Several others have also excelled in fields such as Computer Science, Psychology, and Business.
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What we do
Every semester, our team participates in intercollegiate tournaments that combine a multitude of skill sets including public speaking, legal writing, teamwork, debating, problem-solving, and presenting. Competition for the entire academic year revolves around a single civil or criminal case, which is released by the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) at the start of each season. Seasons usually begin in September and end in April. Most competitions consist of four rounds, in which teams compete twice as Plaintiff/Prosecution and twice as Defense. To prepare for tournaments, our members meet twice a week to develop case theories, practice speeches, prepare direct and cross-examinations, develop witness characters, and adapt to objections throughout the trial.​