As the tension stretched in a room of suited teens acting as lawyers, the Venice High School Mock Trial team was confronted with an unexpected response from a witness. It was then that the judge of their mock first-degree murder case remarked, “It’s okay, go off script.” 

Since its founding by seniors Valentine Schieneman and Ian Thompson in 2023, the mock trial team has been straying from the norm with its student-led efforts to build a program where students develop their critical thinking and public speaking skills. 

The team competes in the annual Teach Democracy L.A. County competition at the Stanley Mosk courthouse in Downtown Los Angeles, where they take on the roles of attorneys, witnesses, a clerk and bailiff to simulate a criminal court case—judged by a real judge and scored by real attorneys.

The team took on both the prosecution and defense as they competed against anonymous schools in a two-part competition November 3 and 10.

But to even step into the courtroom, the team has had to maneuver the distinct challenges of a student-run initiative: gaining expertise, fundraising, and even managing transportation.   

“Most mock trials teams have an attorney coach,” says Schieneman. “The Venice High School team does not have one at the moment, so creating a system of support was exceptionally difficult for our club. Instead of relying on the attorney coach’s expertise, we have to read books to create that expertise within ourselves.”

Schieneman is proud of how far the club has come in light of having started from ground zero with little outside support. 

“This mock trial club represents a solely student effort,” says Schieneman. “While staff and parents have helped out, the bulk of the mock trial team has been created by the efforts of students.”

Sophomore Isabelle Shapiro, the club’s vice president, joined the team last year, motivated by her passion for law and public speaking. 

“When I joined, we had ten people on our team, and our after school meetings consisted of sitting out on the front lawn on the wet grass, just the ten of us,” Shapiro says. 

Standing at 25 members, the size of the team more than doubled this year. 

While only about half the team goes to each competition, when you have to get approximately 14 students to Downtown L.A. without a school bus, the most feasible option is public transportation. Packed tightly in the rocking metro, the team reviews opening statements and cross examination questions. Still, between rehearsed speeches, conversations drift to witty teenage exchanges and talk about future aspirations. 

Once in the courtroom, a hush falls over the room as ties are adjusted, folders are reviewed, and the trial begins. 

Working under a shared time in a room where every word counts and every statement can elicit an objection, the room fills with a sense of intensity. Yet, the interactions are uplifting and thought-provoking. The judge balances a firm respect for the procedures of the court with encouraging phrases that empower students to try something different after a misstep. After the trial, the team obtains feedback from the judge and scoring attorneys.  

Shapiro, who will be president next year, says she wants to start preparing early by participating in scrimmages and obtaining more support and resources. This includes intensive fundraising to cover the $475 competition fee and hopefully a school bus for next year. She will also continue looking for an attorney coach that is able to offer consistent support for the team.  

Social studies teacher Ahsan Minhas, who is the sponsor for the mock trial team, says he is impressed by the team’s achievements. 

“It really speaks to the effort and dedication that they have—that they were up against schools that had dedicated coaches and we beat them,” he says.

“I’m very impressed with how this club is really just run by itself and I just have to facilitate certain things,” he says. “I think Valentine and Isabelle’s leadership has been really impressive, and I really hope that the club will continue to grow next year.” 

As the mock trial team gets ready to embark on this adventure again next year, their experience has prepared them to not only confront the trials and tribulations of the court, but also of leading a student-run program.