Mock Trial Team
FAQs
High School Law & Trial Advocacy Summer Conference
General
Is there a grade level or age requirement for students who are interested in attending?
From incoming 9th graders to current seniors (class of 2014/incoming college freshman), all high school students are eligible for enrollment.
What does the cost of attendance (tuition) cover?
Aside from the invaluable academic and life experiences attendees will gain from our program, the cost of attendance for the Law & Trial Advocacy Summer Conference covers all on-campus bookings at the University of Miami, meals (if applicable), full schedule of classes, lectures and briefings, events, program faculty, commemorative t-shirts, Best Attorney/Best Witness awards, and on-campus supervision. Furthermore, because we’re a nonprofit organization within the University of Miami and this is a not-for-profit event, any proceeds from our program go towards funding our team for the next academic year.
I want to have a general idea of what I can expect from this program. Do you have a schedule or list of activities?
Of course! Click here to view our tentative schedule for UMock Trial’s 2014 High School Law & Trial Advocacy Summer Conference.
What makes your program different from other summer programs?
While similar summer programs are hosted at other well-known universities, they are actually operated by large corporations who recruit their staff from other universities (and other outside sources), so you lose the benefit of working with experienced mentors that actually attend the school you’re staying at. Our program is not only hosted on the beautiful University of Miami Coral Gables campus, but is also run by students who attend this nationally ranked university. We also work with other top collegiate mock trial teams, such as the 2013 National Championship Team, Florida State University, to provide the best learning experience for our attendees.
How do your tuition costs compare to similar summer programs?
Other programs charge, on average, three times as much as our tuition cost. This is because these programs are often managed by corporations who seek to gain a personal profit. The UMock Trial High School Law & Trial Advocacy Summer Conference is dedicated to helping expose high school students to specialized knowledge and key insights into the legal world that will undoubtedly give them a competitive edge in their future studies.
Is there a dress code for the conference?
Yes. Students should plan on having at least 4 business casual outfits, 1 business professional (preferably a suit) outfit, and 2 casual outfits. These are not including what an attendee wears when arriving or leaving the conference. A final schedule will be released to enrolled students closer to the conference date in order to provide a better idea of what can be expected.
Enrollment & Tuition
Can I just submit the enrollment form to reserve my seat and pay the tuition later on?
No. Your seat cannot be reserved until payment is received. If you submit an enrollment form without submitting payment your enrollment form will not be processed until payment is received
What’s the deadline to pay my remaining tuition if I’ve already paid the seat deposit?
Remaining tuition cost must be paid by June 20th in order to be able to attend the conference.
Why was the enrollment deadline extended?
We understand that it may take some time to decide if attending our program is right for you, so, due to extremely high demand, we extended the deadline to give as many high school students as possible the opportunity to enroll in our program. However, there is still limited seating available, so it is highly recommended that you enroll and pay the seat deposit as soon as possible to ensure a seat in our program.
Why do I have to pay a late fee if I submit my payment after May 31st?
In order to make all the necessary reservations to accommodate our attendees (classrooms, lectures, etc.) we have certain deadlines and requirements we must meet. Unfortunately, paying after May 31st cost more, therefore we have to charge more. We really wish we didn’t have to. If your reason for holding off on submitting the seat deposit has to do with financial concerns, please come talk to us and we’ll try to work something out.
Scholarships
Do you offer any scholarships or financial aid?
We do have a scholarship program! You can click here to go to the "Scholarships & Team Discounts" page to view all the nitty-gritty details.
Should I wait to hear back about my scholarship application before submitting my seat deposit?
No. Your seat deposit must be paid before May 31st, or by June 15th with a $25 late fee. Your seat cannot be reserved till the seat deposit is paid, even if you submitted a scholarship application. Your scholarship application cannot be reviewed until your seat deposit is paid. If you have concerns about payments please feel free to contact us.
I don’t have an opening statement of my own to submit for my video performance for my scholarship application. What should I do?
Don't worry about trying to write your own opening if you don't already have one. That's what we'll teach you at the conference! We've provided a sample opening you can use for your video performance on the "Scholarship & Team Discounts" page, or you can click here for a direct link.
Where do I send my scholarship application materials?
You can find the link for the email address on the "Scholarships and Team Discounts" page, but just for clarity, all scholarship application materials should be sent to UMockTrialTeam@gmail.com.
Mentors
How do I become a mentor?
Mentors must have extensive experience in collegiate mock trial and must be currently enrolled in a college/university. If you’re interested in volunteering as a mentor for our program please click here to contact the program coordinator about scheduling an interview.
Are there any open mentorship positions available?
Currently, the majority of mentorship positions are filled for the present number of students enrolled. However, if you are interested and meet the qualifications to become a mentor, we encourage you to contact our program director anyway. The total number of conference attendees cannot be determined till after the enrollment deadline of May 31st and therefore the total number of mentors needed also cannot be determined until after that date. There have been several inquiries, so we recommend that you contact us soon as possible to be placed on a waitlist since interviews will be conducted on a first come, first serve basis.