The New Jersey State Bar Foundation’s annual Vincent J. Apruzzese Mock Trial Competition brings together education and legal communities to provide interactive learning experiences for high school students. In addition to helping students develop crucial skills like teamwork, public speaking and critical thinking, participants gain an understanding of courtroom procedures and the legal system. By participating in a mock trial, students become more aware of their rights and responsibilities, which can encourage future civic participation and careers in law.
Pieter Kooistra, an English teacher at The Lawrenceville School, has been a mock trial teacher-coach for more than 30 years. “The NJSBF mock trial competition is a massive contribution to civic life and legal education in our state. Students are given an opportunity to examine civic issues, test their understanding of the law and hone their critical thinking skills in a simulated courtroom trial. This gives them a practical way to learn about civics beyond the classroom setting.”
Using an original case the NJSBF’s Mock Trial Committee prepares, student teams take on the roles of attorneys, witness and jurors and present the case in county courtrooms for the first round of competitions. Regional competitions and the state finals are held at the New Jersey Law Center. The winning team represents New Jersey at the National Mock Trial Championship held each spring.
“Every year, for wonderfully intensive months, I work with a dozen high school students who are driven to great passion and depths of discipline as they gear up for and participate in the competition,” said Kooistra. “The students learn so much by first poring over the case, competing with and against their peers and then by absorbing the feedback from legal professionals who judge the competitions.”
Hundreds of members from the legal community volunteer to coach, judge and coordinate teams that participate every year across New Jersey. Mainland Regional High School of Atlantic County took home top honors at the 2024-2025 competition, edging out Mendham High School of Morris County for the prestigious state title in March. More than 3,400 students from 216 teams participated.
Domenic Sanginiti, an attorney at Stark & Stark in Hamilton, has been involved in the NJSBF Mock Trial program for more than 10 years. He started as an attorney-coach for a local high school team and is now Mercer County Mock Trial County Coordinator. “After my first year as an attorney-coach, I was hooked on volunteering for the mock trial program. I believe that those of us who practice in the legal field have a duty to protect the practice of law and the future of the practice. Volunteering is the ultimate way to pay it forward.”
In conjunction with the High School Mock Trial Competition, NJSBF sponsors Courtroom Artist and Courtroom News Reporter Competitions for aspiring artists and journalists. Age-appropriate mock trial contests for elementary and middle school students, which help fulfill state-mandated civics education requirements, are also available. Learn more here.
Every year, attorney volunteers are needed to coach and judge mock trial teams. To volunteer for the 2025-2026 season (starting this fall), visit volunteer.njsbf.org.