The Mock Trial team at Alief Early College High School is a competitive academic program that provides students with hands-on experience in the trial court system, while building confidence, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. In Mock Trial, students take on roles such as attorneys, witnesses, timekeepers, and, in some competitions, judges. Once competition case packets are released, the team analyzes evidence and witness affidavits, creates timelines, develops case themes, and writes direct and cross-examination questions for both the prosecution and defense.
The team is supported by a dedicated volunteer attorney, Katherine Wilcox, who continues to mentor students through Zoom despite relocating to Colorado. Her guidance helps students refine their legal analysis and courtroom strategies. Through competitions that can last two to four rounds a day and are judged by real attorneys and judges, students learn to think on their feet, handle objections, and speak confidently in high-pressure environments.
Over the past five years, the Alief ECHS Mock Trial team has built an impressive competitive record. They participate in the Texas High School Mock Trial Competition, where they earned the third-highest overall team score last year and now aim to advance to the state level. In the YMCA Youth and Government Mock Trial Competition, Alief teams consistently place and advance to the state level in Austin, with this year’s teams earning first and second place and qualifying for the higher-tier District Court competition. The team has also competed nationally at the Empire Mock Trial Competition in Chicago, facing top programs from across the country and internationally, and gaining invaluable experience. Additionally, a long-standing partnership with the University of Houston Law Center has resulted in frequent first- and second-place finishes at UH-hosted competitions, as well as district recognition in 2023.
For students, Mock Trial is about more than winning. Ninth grader Jenseny Calvillo shared that the program helped her find a sense of belonging and confidence. Others, like Zody Calderon Huerta, emphasized how competing on a national stage proved that students from Title I schools can succeed in elite academic spaces. Many participants credit Mock Trial with improving their public speaking, helping them step outside their comfort zones, and even inspiring future careers in law. Watching students grow from nervous beginners into confident advocates remains the most rewarding part of the program.