The Redwood mock trial team took home a second-place prize at the Marin County Mock Trial Competition last year, 2024. A mock trial is a simulated court trial where students are assigned courtroom roles, acting as attorneys and witnesses. Students analyze and prepare for a case, then present their arguments in competitions. Redwood’s mock trial team has undergone considerable changes since last year, with 10 members graduating in the class of 2025, resulting in many new students joining the team.
Scot Candell has been a permanent attorney coach for mock trial since 2019, having previously taken on the role for a shorter stint.
“My role is to teach students the law. Everybody who’s on the mock trial team is actually learning a lot of law school lessons that you would learn in your first year of law school,” Candell said.
Candell stated that mock trial not only teaches students law knowledge but also many life skills that can be used outside of legal settings, especially in public speaking skills and overall confidence.
“[Mock trial is] so good for so many different things. It’s good to teach people how to think on their feet, but with improv, law and rules,” Candell said. “I think it just builds confidence and the ability to pivot and improvise when things don’t always go exactly as you expect them to.”
Many fresh faces can be seen in the mock trial classroom this year. With a new team, Candell is excited for students to come into their roles for the upcoming mock trial season.
“It’s exciting because we have a young team that is fresh and talented, and I think they’re going to do really well,” Candell said. “We have a couple of people who have been on mock trial for a few years already, who are great leaders.”
Senior Zoe Gister is co-captain of the mock trial team. She joined in her freshman year, leaving for Germany in her junior year to return as a captain her senior year. As a leader, she is eager to help her team grow, while also learning more as an advisor.
“I’ve [learned that I] can’t just teach dedication to people. I have to work with what people are willing to do, instead of trying to force people to work on the same track that I learned with. So, [I’ve learned to] be flexible,” Gister said.
Gister also reflects on what made the team so successful in the past, and how she’s attempting to replicate their success.
“Building friendships among our teammates is really what made our team so good in the past, and I’m looking to develop that through team bonding, playing games [and] really encouraging people to interact among themselves, not just with the captains,” Gister said.
Sophomore Milena Patterson is coming into her second year of mock trial. She is interested in pursuing a career in law.
“[My favorite part of mock trial is the] actual days when you get to dress up and get ready in your suit or blazer, and then walk in together [to competitions]. It’s a really cool experience,” Patterson said.
These competitions often occur in actual courtrooms in front of a judge and a jury of real-life lawyers. Gister has a few words of advice for students who may be anxious about speaking in front of so many people.
“Public speaking isn’t scary, [because] no one will remember your mistakes except you. And even [if you mess up], when you remember your mistakes and you look back on them and cringe, you learn something from it,” Gister said.
Mock trial meets on Mondays in room 237. They are currently preparing for their upcoming scrimmage by going over their assigned roles and learning about courtroom rules and etiquette.
“I think mock trial is a phenomenal experience, and, even if you don’t want to be a lawyer, it teaches you skills that will help you in life. I think it’s a great experience for everybody and is something that people should consider [joining],” Candell said.
