Do I have to be pre-law to join NUMT?

Not at all! In the past three years, we’ve had a member of the team in every single school at Northwestern — everything from legal studies majors to computer science majors to violin performance majors. Many of our members are not planning to go to law school and instead join NUMT to grow their public speaking skills or even to pursue their passion for medicine by testifying as a medical expert.

That being said, if you are pre-law or considering going to law school, NUMT can be a great way to learn more about the profession. You’ll simulate actual trial format and compete using rules of evidence based heavily off the federal rules of evidence used in real trials. You’ll also get to meet and network with several law students at top law schools, practicing attorneys, and judges.

What will I gain from being on NUMT?

By joining NUMT, you’ll join one of the most successful mock trial teams in the country and will improve your critical thinking, public speaking, and acting skills. Not only will you get to compete with and learn from some of the best competitors in the activity, but you’ll also go head-to-head with other extremely successful teams at the top invitationals in the country. NUMT also boasts an extremely comprehensive curriculum for members to develop their skills: we mix lesson workshops with hands-on practice on a team made up of a mixture of new members and experienced members.

You’ll also get access to professional connections with our coaches and alumni. Every year we’re coached by practicing attorneys in Chicago and students at top law schools around the country. Several of our members have gotten internships at law firms and clinics through our coaches and our law school coaches give our members advice and insight into studying for the LSAT and getting into T14 law schools. Our alumni are also extremely successful: in the past few years, we’ve send alumni to Harvard Law, the Department of Justice, and Capitol Hill.

Finally, by joining NUMT, you’ll gain a community on campus. Throughout the fall season, we hold “friend dates” to introduce our new members to our upperclassmen to form bonds and welcome our new members into our NUMT family. We also hold social events throughout the year, from singing karaoke together to taking a trip to the world’s largest Starbucks in downtown Chicago. We’d say that NUMT works hard and plays hard, but to be honest, it never feels like work when we’re together.

How do I join NUMT?

We hold tryouts every fall quarter. Check out our Join page for more information!

Does NUMT have financial dues?

Yes. Based on the state of competition, financial dues may be between $50 to $150.

When we’re competing in person, members can additionally expect to pay for any plane tickets to tournaments, food during tournaments, and ground transportation during tournaments (like taking an Uber to get dinner).

However, the program has a robust reimbursement process and our program treasurer will work with you to make sure that finances are never a barrier to your participation. Typically, our program can assist with paying for expenses — including dues — to the percentage of financial aid you receive. For example, if the university covers 100% of the cost of your tuition, NUMT will reimburse you 100% of the costs of your membership.

For any questions about reimbursement or costs, you can contact our treasurer Eshaan Chandani at eshaanchandani2027@u.northwestern.edu or contact us at any of the social media links below.

Where does NUMT compete?

During your first season, you'll have the opportunity to go to at least one far place — like San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta, New York, or Washington, D.C. — and at least one local competition — like Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, or at home in Illinois.

We usually leave on Fridays and come back on Sunday nights on competition weekends. All ground transportation to tournaments is covered by the program, but team members are responsible for their own air travel, food, and ground transportation during tournaments. However, we have a comprehensive reimbursement process that will make sure finances are never a barrier to your membership on NUMT.

What is the time commitment like?

We like to say that being on NUMT is like taking another class, but the time commitment varies from time to time. You’ll likely be busiest at the beginning of the year when you’re leaning the basics of mock trial and right before tournaments, however, we’re always happy to work with you to make sure you can participate even with time commitments to other clubs or to a job.

We typically meet as a program every Thursday from 7-10pm on our Evanston campus. You can expect to meet with your individual team at least one other time during the week on the Evanston campus. Occasionally, teams will hold pracitices or scrimmages at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. During competition weeks, teams will likely meet several times during the week to ensure they've perfected everything. 

We typically say that on average — including bus travel time to the law school and any work you might do individually to prepare — you can expect to spent 12-15 hours a week on mock trial.

What do competitors do during mock trial?

There are two roles on mock trial: witnesses and attorneys.

As a witness, you will portray a character. These characters will vary from accused murderers to quirky talent agents to state medical examiners. You’ll both prepare a question-and-answer with an attorney from your own team to get out facts that are good for your side (direct examinations) and prepare for an unfriendly questioning from the other team’s attorney where you’ll have to fend off questions about information that’s bad for your side (cross examinations). People who enjoy acting and making up characters will enjoy witnessing.

As a lawyer, you’ll prepare direct examinations with a witness on your team as well as cross-examinations to question witnesses from other teams. You might also give a statement, which is a speech where you’ll explain the facts of your case and why your client has won. Attorneys also participate in impromptu objection battles using case law and rules of evidence to disrupt opposing attorneys’ examinations or protect your own. People who like public speaking and debate will enjoy attorneying.

Do I need experience to join NUMT?

No, not at all! Several of our most talented members came in with no public speaking experience at all. We’re one of only three teams in the national to qualify our B team — made up of mostly new members — to the national tournament three years in a row!

During the info sessions, we’ll teach you everything you need to know, including examples of what a good tryout looks like. You’re welcome to look up videos on YouTube if you’d like, but it’s not required. We’re more interested in your skills than your knowledge of mock trial.

What is mock trial?

Mock Trial is an intercollegiate competition among schools who are members of the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), founded in 1985. Today, over 350 schools nationwide are members of AMTA, with over 700 teams competing every year. Northwestern has finished in the top 10 of those 700 teams for the past two years.

At the beginning of each year, teams are given a fictional legal case, complete with witness affidavits and applicable case law. Mock Trial uses the Federal Rules of Evidence. The case can be either criminal or civil, alternating each year. This variation gives students insights into two different fields of law. As with any legal case, there is a prosecution (or, in a civil case, a plaintiff) and a defense. Students from one member school represent one side and compete against students from another school who present the opposing side. 

Mock trial is a creative outlet for anyone interested in public speaking, critical thinking, acting, and so much more -- regardless of career interests! It allows students the opportunity to learn how to construct speeches, showcase and improve their public speaking skills in front of real-life judges and attorneys, and perform as a variety of different characters in a unique performance setting.