Learn trial advocacy techniques and put your skills to the test
Participate in an immersive exploration of the U.S. legal system
Are you a high school student interested in learning more about our nation’s legal system and how attorneys prepare a case for trial? Perhaps you are considering a career in law as a trial attorney, prosecutor, or defense attorney. Maybe you want to build your self-confidence and strengthen your ability to communicate your ideas and opinions to others. If any of these are true, you are the ideal candidate for the UCLA Mock Trial Summer Institute.
This week-long program is a great way to broaden your knowledge base, explore college and career options, boost your self-confidence and powers of persuasion – all while making new friends and having fun! Join us online to train with the National Champion UCLA Mock Trial Team Coach and Team Members! Learn effective trial advocacy techniques and improve your public speaking skills. UCLA has won the Collegiate National Championship four times in the last 16 years, more than any other university in the country, and you will have the chance to work with both our coaches and team members.
Mock Trial Summer Institute Program Overview
This course will familiarize high school students with law and jurisprudence, the American justice system and effective trial advocacy techniques. The course is ideal for students competing in high school mock trial programs. However, no prior mock trial or public speaking experience is necessary. All students will learn about persuasive oral presentation, thinking on their feet and legal analysis.
The course will cover basic concepts of law, courtroom demeanor, direct and cross examination, opening statements, closing arguments, courtroom exhibits, evidentiary trial objections and witness portrayal. The program will feature a visit to criminal felony trials in the Los Angeles Superior Court and a final mock trial competition. Students will work with Prof. Gonzalo Freixes, Associate Dean at the UCLA Anderson School and Faculty Advisor for the UCLA Mock Trial Program and Prof. Elizabeth Smiley, Head Coach for the UCLA Mock Trial Program. They will also work extensively in small teams with college counselors who are competitors in the UCLA Mock Trial Program or who compete at other universities. The Mock Trial will be based on the murder case of People vs. Ashley Thornhill (a murder at an advertising firm).
Application deadline: June 1, 2024 | Enrollment deadline: June 15, 2024
Applications are reviewed and admission to the program is granted on a rolling basis starting February 15th. Applying at your earliest convenience, prior to June 1st, is highly recommended.
The program has application requirements for admission. Eligible applicants who successfully submit all requirements will be reviewed and notified via email of an admission decision within 3 weeks.
Applicants are required to provide the following during the online registration process:
- An unofficial transcript from grade 9 to present reflecting a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher
- If your school transcript utilizes a different grading system, please submit your transcript as is. If available, please attach a translation/equivalency guide.
- INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: If you are an international student, a transcript refers to your complete secondary academic record. To learn more about converting your grades into a US-based GPA, please click here.
- If your school has a translation/equivalency guide, please also include it with your transcript. If you do not have a translation/equivalency guide, please still submit your most up-to-date transcript as is for staff to review.
- Value statement: At the time of registration, ALL applicants will be prompted to submit a few short sentences reflecting on their pursuit of participation in a UCLA Precollege Summer Institute. Please note that students are strongly discouraged from relying on ChatGpt/AI tools for their application responses and are encouraged to submit original and authentic answers.
Due to the intense nature of the Mock Trial Summer Institute (In-Person) – Session A and Session B and the time commitment involved, living in on-campus housing is mandatory.
For more information on UCLA housing precollege programs, please see the Housing for Minors page.
Many of our precollege programs with mandatory housing (only) also feature non-curricular evening and weekend activities, the availability of which is at the sole discretion of the academic department offering the program, and are not operated by UCLA Summer Sessions. To learn more about whether (and when) your selected program will host such activities, please consult the schedules for each program or contact the department in question directly: gonzalo.freixes@anderson.ucla.edu
Most of our precollege programs with mandatory housing will hold check-in on the Sunday before the start of the program between 4-6pm, and hold check-out the Saturday after the final day of class at 11am. Please contact the department in question directly to confirm check-in and check-out times: gonzalo.freixes@anderson.ucla.edu
The Mock Trial Summer Institute (Virtual) – Session C will be conducted virtually (online). All meeting times will take place in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), unless otherwise noted on program schedule and syllabus. Participants must log-in to virtual sessions at the times indicated on the program schedule.
Students in the virtual program will not be offered housing.
Coursework
Management 88; 2 units
Grading Basis
Students will receive a letter grade upon completion. See University Credit, Grades and Transcripts for more information about academic credit.
In order to successfully complete the program, students must not have more than 1 excused or unexcused absence.
UCLA Summer Sessions Summer Scholars Support
Qualified students attending grades 9th – 11th in Spring 2024 in the state of California may be eligible for Summer Scholars Support, a need- and merit-based scholarship offered by the UCLA Summer Sessions Office. Students must be 15 years old by the first day of Summer Sessions 2024 on June 24th in order to participate in a Precollege Summer Institute and/or apply for Summer Scholars Support. A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available to support enrollment in SCIP/eSCIP, one Summer Course, or a Precollege Summer Institute.
Summer 2024 deadline to apply: March 15.
Session A: Mandatory housing
June 23, 2024 – June 29, 2024
Session B: Mandatory housing
July 14, 2024 – July 20, 2024
Session C: Virtual
July 21, 2024 – July 27, 2024
Program Eligibility: 9th-12th grade in Spring 2024*
Application Deadline: June 1, 2024
Enrollment Deadline: June 15, 2024
*All participants must be at least 15 years of age by the first day of Summer Sessions 2024 on June 24th, no exceptions allowed.
The schedule and syllabus are subject to change. Enrolled students will be given updated materials closer to the program start date.
Fees and Payment Info
The program fee includes the unit fees for the UCLA coursework offered as part of the program and thus varies by UC student status. The program fee also includes the cost of UCLA Housing (for mandatory housing programs). In addition to the program fee, students are assessed other campus and administrative fees during the summer. This is a summary of fees that commonly apply to the selected student type.
Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California. Visit the fees, payment, and financial aid section for important disclaimer, as well as more details on fees, payment instructions, and information on delinquency, refunds, and financial aid.
VIRTUAL PROGRAM FEES:
The program fees listed in the selection are for the Mandatory Housing versions only. The following are the program fees for the Virtual version.
- High School Student = $1,288
- Incoming UCLA Student = $1,076
- Incoming UC Student = $1,076
All other fees listed will remain the same for the Virtual version.
Meet your instructors
Professor Gonzalo Freixes
Associate DeanGonzalo Freixes is an Adjunct Professor at UCLA Anderson School of Management, where he teaches courses in Real Estate, Business Law, Taxation and International Business. Prof. Freixes is currently the Associate Dean of the Fully Employed and Executive MBA Programs at UCLA Anderson. He has a Doctorate in Jurisprudence from Loyola Law School and a Master in Business Taxation from the University of Southern California.
Prof. Freixes has taught courses and led programs in international business with UCLA Anderson students in several countries in Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. He frequently lectures on the subjects of taxation, corporate governance, business ethics, international business and trial advocacy. He is the Faculty Advisor and Coach for the UCLA Mock Trial Program.
Elizabeth Smiley
Mock Trial Head CoachElizabeth Smiley is a litigation associate working in the class action group at Baron & Budd, P.C. in Los Angeles, California. She has coached undergraduate mock trial at UCLA since 2017 and currently serves as Head Coach. She is also an instructor in the UCLA Mock Trial Institute. Ms. Smiley previously competed and coached at the University of Arizona. She has been a member of the American Mock Trial Association Board of Directors since 2022 and currently serves as Rules Committee Chair. Ms. Smiley has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Arizona and Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Arizona Law School.
Mock Trial Summer Institute FAQ
Yes, students will be taught the collegiate rules of mock trial.
Mock Trial at UCLA is an extremely competitive program. Each year we have anywhere between 90-120 people tryout. Depending on how many returning members we have, we accept between 15-20 new members.
Yes. Students will get an email from Professor Gonzalo Freixes and program director Kseniya Belysheva detailing what the case will be about.
No. Each team will have experienced counselors who will teach them everything they will need to know about mock trial. Additionally, Professor Gonzalo Freixes will give lectures about mock trial so every student, no matter their prior experience, will be able to compete at the end of the Summer Institute.
Still have questions? Check out the general Summer Institutes FAQ.