Resource

Mock Trials Classroom Pack

Overview

The Mock Trial Competitions are our longest-running active citizenship experiences. Since 1991, we have provided unparalleled exposure to the judicial system, its venues and access to senior legal professionals.

Some of you may have already brought a team to one of our Mock Trial Competitions and know how transformative the experience can be for young people. Some of you may have a legal background and are looking for a way to engage young people in the law. Some of you may have no legal knowledge at all but are curious about the law and want to bring it to your classroom. Whatever brings you here, we hope this free classroom pack acts as a springboard for criminal legal education throughout classrooms (virtual or otherwise) across the country.

What’s in the pack?

The pack moves through three ‘phases’:

1. Session One: Courts, Roles and Procedure – Introduces young people to the differences between the Crown Court and the magistrates’ court, the roles of legal bodies and professionals within a courtroom.

2. Session Two: The Case – Students have a go at analysing a case, resources including full witness statements and annotations to support their learning. All students will take on the role of either the prosecution or defence.

3. Session Three: The Mock Trial The last session culminates in students rehearsing and conducting a mock trial in your classroom.

The classroom pack is designed to be flexible and adaptable. Some activities can be done independently and others are teacher-led. This pack is intended for your whole class. The pack can be used for students in KS3 upwards.

Suggested next steps:

More Lessons resources

Lessons, Health and Wellbeing, KS2 (ages 7-11)

Who Keeps us Healthy?

In this lesson pupils consider what being healthy means and who plays a role in keeping the population healthy. The coronavirus pandemic is given as an example of populations taking…

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS1 (ages 5-7)

Our Rules

A short lesson to help children understand what rules are and why we need them. Learning activities: Imagining the perfect classroom Helpful or not?  Children are asked to explore a…

Lessons, Diversity and Inclusion, KS2 (ages 7-11)

Identities

In this lesson pupils will develop an understanding of what is meant by the term ‘identity.’ They will explore their own sense of identity and share this with others, appreciating…

More Politics and Democracy resources

Lessons, Politics and Democracy, KS2 (ages 7-11)

Brexit: Part 1 – Referendum

Pupils will be given a brief introduction to the European Union. They will learn about why people’s opinions about the EU are divided and the results of the EU referendum.…

Lessons, Politics and Democracy, KS1 (ages 5-7)

What is a Vote?

In this lesson pupils will learn what it means to vote by looking at relatable examples in the lives of the Go-Givers. They will consider why and how votes are…

Politics and Democracy, KS3 (ages 11-14)

Voting and the General Election

This resource pack is the second of a four-part set which has been designed to introduce students to the...

More Understanding Rules & The Law resources

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Migration of People

To help you engage your students in the topic of migration Young Citizens have developed a flexible teaching resource...

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS2 (ages 7-11)

Discrimination

In this lesson pupils will develop their understanding of the term ‘discrimination’. Pupils will consider what makes them unique and learn which characteristics are protected under the Equality Act. Pupils…

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS1 (ages 5-7)

The Big Legal Lesson 2026 (ages 5-11)

Join the UK's biggest legal education campaign during February 2025.

More KS3 (ages 11-14) resources

Lessons, Economics, Money and Managing Resources, KS3 (ages 11-14)

The Economy Quiz

In this short, 15 minute activity students use all they have learnt from earlier lessons to complete a quiz...

Politics and Democracy, KS3 (ages 11-14)

Voting and the General Election

This resource pack is the second of a four-part set which has been designed to introduce students to the...

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS4 (ages 14-16)

An Introduction to Discrimination Law (SmartLaw Subscription)

This lesson looks at the history of anti-discrimination law, the different types of discrimination (i.e. direct and indirect discrimination) and how the law deals with discrimination. It can be delivered…

More KS4 (ages 14-16) resources

Lessons, Economics, Money and Managing Resources, KS5 (ages 16-18)

The Government and the Economy

By the end of the lesson students will: Understand key economic terms including taxation, welfare benefits, public spending and...

Lessons, Politics and Democracy, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Democracy Ambassadors

What was Democracy Ambassadors? Between April 2018 and March 2019 Young Citizens worked with youth leaders to recruit 1,000...

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS3 (ages 11-14)

Law in Wales

Did you know that the age of criminal responsibility in Wales is ten? In Scotland it is 12. In...

More KS5 (ages 16-18) resources

Lessons, Economics, Money and Managing Resources, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Who’s Really Paying for COVID?

Young people are, and will continue to be, some of the most impacted by COVID. However their voices have...

Lessons, Economics, Money and Managing Resources, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Economic Cycles

This free classroom resource explores what economic cycles are and how they impact our lives. Aimed at KS4 and...

Classroom Toolkits, Politics and Democracy, KS1 (ages 5-7)

Controversial issues: guidance for schools

Children are alert to information and images they see in the media. These may graphically influence their view of the world, and not always positively. Graphic images on TV and…