mock trials
DESCRIPTION
Law students would profit from mock trials to understand the mechanics of trial advocacy.TRANSCRIPT
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MOCK TRIALSFOR
STUDENTS
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Presentation
by
Maj. Gen. Nilendra Kumar
Director
Amity Law School, Noida
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What is a mock trial?
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Mock Trial
A mock trial is an act or imitation
trial. It is a simulated exercise to
train potential lawyers, judges or
court officials.
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Mock trials are a prominent mode
of clinical legal education.
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How does it?
Differ from a Moot
Moot Court is appellate advocacy
whereas mock trial is practice of
trial advocacy.
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Object of a Mock Trial
Practical training in trial court
advocacy.
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It imparts practical training in
advocacy and court craft
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Types of mock trial
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Basic Forms
1. Criminal
2. Civil
3. Tribunal
4. Arbitration
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Mock trial practice can be later
expanded to cover
1. Conciliation
2. Mediation
3. Taxation
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How to plan for a mock trial?
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It could be held singly by a group
of law students or as a competing
event between two such teams.
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Work out a plot or the problem
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Keep the problem simple and
capable of being presented
within maximum two hours.
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Illustration of Type of Plots
1. Simple theft
2. Altercation and use of force
3. Eve teasing incident
4. Landlord tenant dispute
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5. Breach of contract
6. Cheque bouncing case
7. Use of unfair means in exams (inquiry)
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Eligibility
Preferably the teams should
consist of members who have
studied the law of evidence.
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Frame rules for participation and
Assessment.
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Allocate time for
a) Opening address
b) Examination in Chief
c) Cross-examination
d) Re-examination
e) Final address
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Limit the total time to not more than
150 minutes to retain the attention
of judges, participants and
spectators.
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Each team not to have six to
seven participants.
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Breakdown
1. Advocate - 1
2. Witnesses - 3
3. Accused or party - 1
4. Spare - 1
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Maximum number of material or
documentary exhibits to be limited.
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Judges to be chosen from amongst
those with experience in litigation at
trial stage.
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Assessment and
Evaluation Criteria
Opening statement Questions Submissions Clarity of language
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Pronounciation Legal sustenance Brevity of question Poise and body language Court decorum and courtesy
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Witnesses are not allowed to refer
to any notes while giving their
testimony.
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Witness should be excluded from
the court room while other evidence
is being taken.
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Arrange the presence of a
commentator to give relevant
comments or explanation as and
when needed.
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PROCEDURE
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Students be trained how to produce
a document or material exhibit.
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How the documents are identified?
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Oath/affirmation to be administered
to a witness.
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Advocates may give a brief outline
of their case before commencement
of witnesses evidence. This would
be their version of the case.
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At the end of the evidence, they
may give a small submission.
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Questions should be brief, simple
and direct.
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A question be asked with a definite
purpose.
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Prepare a check sheet to monitor
If evidence has been led on all
essential ingradients.
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Type of Questions
1. Leading
2. Successfully objected
3. Irrelevant
4. Inadmissible
5. Repetition
6. Exceed time limit
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Suggestion
1. Not more than three witnesses
2. Keep scope for one witness to turn hostile
3. Keep scope for innovation
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Restrict
1. Rival versions not allowed to contradict or oppose the narrative.
2. Number of witnesses not to exceed what is permissible.
3. Time limit allowed to be adhered.
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Each team be allowed to innovate
or assume facts as long as these
do not contradict or violate given
narratives.
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Scope
Introduce different types of
witnesses
1. Expert witness
2. Child testimony
3. Deaf and dumb witness
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5. Hostile witness
6. Expert
7. Formal witness
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Objection
State the ground for, based on
Relevance Admissibility
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Negative marks be awarded for
irrelevant, leading or inadmissible
questions.
Also if a question is repeated.
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Practice law relating to admissibility
of confession.
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Procedure for a witness to refresh
his memory.
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Do’s
1. Give list of witnesses.
2. Allow time for reply to be recorded by the stenographer.
3. State ground for objection.
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1. Object before the reply is given.
2. Ask formal and preliminary questions from a witness to know who he is and what is his occupation.
3. Identify the accused.
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While announcing results of the
event, a detailed summing up by
the faculty or the Chief Judge is
desirable to highlight faults and
mistakes noted.
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CONCLUSION
Going to trial with a lawyer who
considers yours whole life style a
crime in progress is not a happy
prospect.
Hunter S Thompson