The University of Wisconsin Law School is pleased to host the Region 12 National Mock Trial competition from January 30 through February 1. Below you will find information about the competition, including how to sign up to participate as a judge, witness or a bailiff, hotel blocks for teams, the regional problem and exhibits, a tentative agenda for the competition and competition results.
Participate
Attorneys/Judges
Attorneys and judges are invited to sign up to judges the competition, either as a scoring judge or presiding judge.
Each trial will last approximately three hours. We will give you all the information and training you need to judge the competition – you don’t need trial experience! You can either be a scoring judge, or if you have trial experience, you can be a presiding judge.
Stafford Rosenbaum will be hosting our Judge's Lounge where food and beverage will be available after you judge. This is a wonderful opportunity to earn up to four free CLE credits and to work with law students eager for feedback from practicing attorneys and judges.
Click on the link to sign up. We will then be in touch to confirm the date/time and provide you with a bench brief summarizing the case and issues presented. Thank you for your time!
Sign Up
Volunteer Witnesses/Bailiffs
Volunteers are invited to sign up for the role of witnesses or baliffs for the competition. You do not need any experience with mock trial to be a witness or a bailiff.
The bailiff in the competition simply monitors time, and takes the scoring sheets to the scoring room. The witness will be given a trial packet and then act as a witness in the case, and is questioned by the advocates.
Being either a witness or a bailiff gives you a great opportunity to see how mock trials work, and to watch excellent advocates in action. The trials last approximately 2 1/2 hours, though witnesses may leave right after their testimony.
Click on the link to sign up. We will then be in touch to confirm the date/time and provide you with the trial materials needed. Thank you for you time!
Sign Up
Event Schedule
Friday January 30
Competition Day 1
Dane County Courthouse - 215 S. Hamilton St. - There will be security screening, so please plan your arrival accordingly!
- 3:00 p.m. - Coach's meeting - Courtroom 1A
- 5:30 p.m. - Participant's Arrive
- 5:45 p.m. - Judge and Bailiff Instructions - Jury Assembly Room L1000
- 6:00 p.m. - First Round Trials Begin - Courtrooms. Specific Schedule is here.
- 9:00 p.m. - First Round Trials Conclude
Saturday January 31
Competition Day 2
Dane County Courthouse - 215 S. Hamilton St. - There will be security screening, so please plan your arrival accordingly!
- 8:45 a.m. - Judge and Bailiff Instructions - Jury Assembly Room L1000
- 9:00 a.m. - Second Round Trials Begin - Courtrooms. Specific Schedule is here.
- 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - Lunch.
- 1:00 p.m. - Third Round Trials Begin - Courtrooms. Specific Schedule is here.
- 6:00 - 8:00 - Reception hosted by Wisconsin Association of Justice and Wisconsin State Bar Assn.
Sunday February 1
Competition Day 3
Dane County Courthouse - 215 S. Hamilton St. - There will be security screening, so please plan your arrival accordingly!
- 8:45 a.m. - Judge and Bailiff Instructions - Jury Assembly Room L1000
- 9:00 a.m. - Quarter Final Round Trials Begin - Courtrooms. Specific Schedule is here.
- 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - Lunch.
- 1:00 p.m. - Semi-final Round Trials Begin - Courtrooms. Specific Schedule is here.
Materials:
- The Regional problem, including all rules, instructions, orders and exhibits can be found here. The audio exhibit can be found here.
- Competition Rules can be found here.
- Witness Instructional video can be found here.
- Witness Instructions and Guidelines can be found here.
- Witness materials
- Bailiff Instructional video can be found here.
- Judging Guidelines can be found here.
Hotel Blocks
- Hampton Inn and Suites: We have reserved rooms at the Hampton Inn and Suites at a special rate of $110.00 per night. Rooms are either 1 King or 2 Queen beds. The hotel is located at 440 W. Johnson St., Madison, WI. You can use this link to book a room, or call 608-255-0360 and ask for the UW mock trial room block to reserve. The room block remains open until 12/30/25 or the rooms are filled, whichever comes first.
- Hilton Monona Terrace: We have reserved rooms at the Hilton Monona Terrace at the special rate of $139.00 per night. Rooms are either 1 King or 2 Queen beds. The hotel is located at 9 E. Wilson St., Madison, WI. To book a room, use this link or call the hotel directly at: 608-255-0360 and reference the group code: 991 to book directly under the group block/rate. The room block will remain open until December 31, 2025 or the rooms are filled, whichever comes first. After December 31st, any remaining rooms will be released and the discounted rate cannot be guaranteed.
- Edgewater Hotel: We have reserved rooms at the Edgewater Hotel at the special rate of $110.00 per night. Rooms are either 1 King or 2 Queen beds. The hotel is located at 1001 Wisconsin Place, Madison, WI. To book a room you can use this link Group name is UW Law School. You may also call 608-535-8200 and ask to make a reservation under the group UW Law School or mention the group block code: CUWL012926. The room block will remain open until January 8, 2026 or the rooms are filled, whichever comes first. After January 8th, any remaining rooms will be released, and the discounted rate cannot be guaranteed.
CLE Credits for Judges
To claim Wisconsin CLE credit for judging the competition, use the “Teaching CLE” credit portion of the reporting form. Select “ABA Law School” to indicate that the event was hosted by a law school that is accredited by the ABA. Then select “Mock Trial Competition” for type and list the number of hours you spent judging. For each hour served as a judge in the competition, you are eligible to report 1.0 CLE credit, up to a maximum of 4.0 credits.
Reception
The Wisconsin Association of Justice and Wisconsin State Bar will host a reception at the Edgewater Hotel from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the beautiful Red Crown Room overlooking lake Mendota, and will feature heavy appetizers and a cash bar for drinks. If you are interested in attending the reception, please he sign up here so we can estimate the number of anticipated attendees.
- For Valet Parking: please pull into the circle drive where a parking attendant will greet you and direct you to the Red Crown Room.
- For Self-Parking: as you are pulling up to The Edgewater, you will turn right onto Langdon Street and enter the underground parking garage on your right-hand side. There is a direct entrance into The Edgewater on the 5th floor of the parking garage. Once inside the hotel, proceed down the hall and turn right at the sign for the elevators. Take an elevator to the 3rd floor, where you will find an underground walkway leading you to the Langdon Building. Once inside the Langdon Building, you will find another elevator bank at the end of the hall. Take an elevator to the 11th floor. The doors will open into the Red Crown Room, where our event is taking place.
Contact
Please contact Kim Peterson at kmpeterson@wisc.edu or 262-434-0644 for questions and comments.
