Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
We are looking for smart, dedicated, and talented students. Typically this includes individuals with experience in public speaking, acting, or an interest in trial work. PMT is a great option for students who are interested in attending law school, but this is by no means a prerequisite for acceptance. Our team comes from a variety of academic backgrounds. In addition to attending some of the best law schools in the nation, past members have gone on to work in engineering, politics, medicine, business, and film.

HOW MUCH TIME DOES MOCK TRIAL REQUIRE?
The time commitment associated with being a member of PMT changes throughout the year, and from person to person. You can expect to meet at least twice per week, either to prepare case materials or attend administrative meetings. In preparation for major competitions, members will meet several times a week and are expected to work outside of regularly scheduled practices both individually and in pairs. That being said, our program is 100% student run. Practice and scrimmage schedules will be designed around the schedules and conflicts of team members. We will generally compete in 2-3 tournaments on weekends throughout each semester.

CAN I BE INVOLVED IN MOCK TRIAL AND OTHER EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES?
Absolutely! Almost all of our members have other commitments outside of mock trial, including on campus jobs, internships, and extracurricular activities. Past and present members have been involved in Model UN, Parliamentary Debate, the West Philadelphia Tutoring Project, Greek Life, The Daily Pennsylvanian, SAC, the Undergraduate Assembly, Shabbatones, Penn HYPE, the International Affairs Association, Bloomers, PennYo, Glee Club, and the John Marshall Pre-Law Honor Society, just to name a few.

DO I NEED MOCK TRIAL EXPERIENCE?
Absolutely not. About half of the Penn team had no prior mock trial experience prior to joining our program.

HOW DO I JOIN?
Tryouts are held in early September. We will hold information sessions in the fall where we will describe the specifics of the tryout procedure. You will be given a small portion of a case and what you do during your tryout will test out a variety of skills. 

You can learn more about the upcoming recruitment cycle by visiting our Fall 2025 Auditions page.

HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR THE TRYOUT?
Once you have the tryout materials, the best thing to do is learn what you're given, showcase your public speaking skills, and just have fun with the audition process. We love to be entertained! A great witness character is just as fun to watch as a strong cross-examination or opening statement. We'll provide you with some guidance during the information session. We'll also hold optional "office hours" the day before tryouts begin so that you can come ask our President (Anthony Wong) or VP of External Affairs (Lucia Gotera) any further questions you have about tryouts or Mock Trial in general.