Mock Trial club states its case as one of county's top programs

Clayton Valley Charter High School’s Mock Trial Club has been giving students the opportunity to experience the legal system firsthand for more than two decades. 

Open to students of all grade levels, the club allows participants to step into roles such as lawyers, witnesses, defendants, and members of the prosecution while learning how real trials work.

Mock Trial advisor Sayed Anwar, a longtime social science teacher at Clayton Valley, said his interest in running the club came from his own background in law. 

“I went to school to become a lawyer, so when I came to this school somebody asked me, ‘Hey, I want to run a mock trial team. Are you interested?’ I said, ‘Oh totally,’” Anwar said. “So then I took over mock trial… I’ve adopted it.”

According to Anwar, the club has existed at CVCHS for at least 20 years and continues to

attract highly motivated students. Members spend months preparing for the mock trial season,

which begins in August and runs through February or March. Students meet regularly to

practice analyzing cases and preparing arguments for trial.

Members of Clayton Valley's Mock Trial team practiced many of their cases at the Martinez Courthouse throughout the season . (Photo courtesy of Mock Trial program)

The program also gives students the chance to participate in real courtroom settings. 

“We actually go to the real courthouse,” Anwar said. “They sit where the jury is summoned. On Tuesday we’re defense and Thursday we’re prosecution.” 

During the season, students compete against roughly 20 other schools in the Contra Costa mock trial competition, which is part of a larger statewide program where each county competes using the same case.

Clayton Valley won three cases this year during their trials, and the team’s very own Mariam Gendy earned the “Judge’s Choice” award. When asked how she prepares for a big trial or competition, Gendy explained: 

“Besides all the weeks of carefully preparing the arguments correlating to the case, my favorite way to prepare myself before a big competition is getting a cup of coffee with the team to help ease everyone’s nerves. It’s important to remember that our competitions are merely a learning experience, so I try my best to make sure everyone is feeling relaxed before we go up!”

Beyond learning about law, Anwar said students gain important life skills from the experience.

“Obviously public speaking, critical thinking is a big part of it, working and camaraderie,

communication, and all these things are what I call ‘soft skills,’” he said. “Later on they help you deal with people who may be really difficult.”

Over the years, Anwar said several former students have even gone on to pursue careers in law after discovering their interests through Mock Trial.