LEXISNEXIS MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION 2014
RULES
1. WHO MAY PARTICIPATE
Only students currently registered for an LLB degree (1 st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th year
students) with the Faculty of Law or School of participating universities are
eligible to compete. Any person previously or currently employed
professionally as an attorney, advocate or public prosecutor may not
compete. Each team must be accompanied by a staff member. No team will
be reimbursed for any costs associated with their attendance or nonattendance of the competition save as previously undertaken by the hosting
university.
2. THE TRIALS
Each team will compete in four preliminary rounds of mock trials. The four
highest-scoring teams will compete in a knock-out semi-final. The two winning
teams will then compete in a final trial to be held on the afternoon of the last
day of the competition. All six trials will be based on Criminal Law. The draw
of the teams is final and no correspondence will be entered into in this regard.
In advance of the competition the teams will all receive a copy of the standard
assessment form to be used by the judges to assess the performance of the
participants.
 Fact sheets and witness statements will be handed out prior to the
trials.
 The “State” must provide the Defence with the charge sheet within
30 minutes after they received their case study.
Please see “Explanatory Memorandum” available on the website for a
detailed explanation of the format the competition will follow.
3. CONVENTIONS
Each side will have one witness to call. No communication will be permitted
with opposition witnesses prior to or during the mock trial concerned.
Participants are confined to the facts given in the fact sheet and witness
statements, and may not alter the information given. This does not preclude
reasonable interpretation of the given facts.
4. TIME ALLOCATION
The general time allocation for each trial is indicated in the timetable. These
time limits will be strictly enforced and monitored with time clocks. When the
time-out signal is given the relevant participants will be instructed to conclude,
and must do so accordingly.
The tasks per trial must be as equally divided as reasonably possible among
the team members. Unequal task allocation will be penalised by the judges.
5. JUDGING AND MARKING
Each trial will only have one presiding officer who will assess the teams.
A full judgement will not be given by the court, but the presiding officer will
give brief feedback on the performances of the team members, based on both
content and presentation. In advance of the competition the teams will all
receive a copy of the standard assessment form to be used by the judges to
assess the performance of the participants. No additional marks will be
allocated for a successful outcome to the trial. The verdict given at the
conclusion of the trial will accordingly have no influence in determining the
winning or losing team in any round. The coaches of the teams will be
allowed to sit in during the trials to enable them to identify shortcomings of the
team and to enable them to train the students for the next rounds.
6. PROCEEDINGS
The procedure will be similar to a criminal trial in the magistrates court,
subject to reasonable adaptations being made due to the limitations of the
competition. Please note that the coaches of the teams are not allowed to
communicate with the teams once the teams have received their case
studies.
7. EXPLANATION OF ROUNDS
All six rounds will be in the form of a criminal trial. Please see “Explanatory
Memorandum” available on the website for a detailed explanation of the
format the competition will take.
8. ISSUES NOT COVERED IN THESE RULES
Any issue that arises for decision not covered in these rules will be decided
by the mock trial moderator, where necessary in consultation with
representatives of the affected parties. The decision of the moderator shall
be final. All procedures, guidelines and rules contained in other
documentation provided by the organisers will be regarded as forming part of,
but must be read subject to, these rules. Failure to adhere to any of these
rules may result in disqualification of the entire team concerned. No refunds
will be given in the event of disqualification.
9. PANEL FOR ADMINISTRATION AND CALCULATION OF RESULTS
There will be a panel for the calculation of results and other administrative
purposes. The panel will consist of five members, two members from the
hosting university and three members chosen by draw from participating
universities. Universities interested in serving on the calculation panel must
please indicate the name of their nominee on the registration form.