For over 30 years, Louisiana lawyers, teachers, and volunteers have dedicated their time, energy, and efforts to allow high school students from all backgrounds to not only learn about trial advocacy but experience it.
The Judge Richard N. Ware, IV Memorial High School Mock Trial Competition brings together winners from four (4) regions across Louisiana. These students compete against each other using a problem designed by lawyers, mentored by young lawyers, and while interacting with their peers.
It’s an incredible chance for students to showcase their legal skills and passion in a challenging and supportive environment.
This Generation’s Lawyers Inspiring the Next
The Judge Richard N. Ware, IV Memorial High School Mock Trial Championship is run by Louisiana young lawyers working to inspire the next generation of young lawyers and community leaders.
Understanding that it is a privilege to be an attorney, the Louisiana Young Lawyers Division aims to open the Louisiana mock trial system, along with the legal profession and the opportunities it provides, to anyone who is curious.
Regardless of socioeconomic status or background, teams from high schools across the state are invited to work together with judges, lawyers, and teachers to experience what a trial is like.
Access a two minute by clicking above that explains how the Louisiana mock trial regional championships impacts those who participate and volunteer.
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Technology Driven
Integrating advancements in legal advocacy technology at the local level
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30+ Years
Louisiana High School Mock Trial History
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Community Centered
Promotes investing in students from within their own communities
The YLD Approach
Collaborating In the Community
The strength of our Mock Trial program lies in community collaboration, led by the Louisiana Young Lawyers’ Division (YLD). For over 30 years, Louisiana lawyers, teachers, and volunteers have dedicated their time and energy to ensure high school students from all backgrounds can not only learn about trial advocacy but truly experience it. The competition brings together winning teams from four regions, connecting the next generation with experienced legal professionals and their peers in a challenging yet supportive network.
Developing Leaders
Our approach is centered on teaching and leadership development. Students work on a case problem designed by young lawyers, are mentored by young lawyers, and ultimately showcase their legal skills and passion to lawyers. The Judge Richard N. Ware, IV Memorial High School Mock Trial Competition is a vital opportunity for participants to cultivate the critical thinking and presentation skills necessary to become Louisiana’s next generation of confident, passionate leaders.
If participants want to learn more about being a lawyer, Suit Up For the Future High School Summer Legal Institute and Intern Program is available through the Louisiana State Bar Association, too.
Mock Trial Resources
Rules of Evidence
Access the rules of evidence (documents, objects, or other items) to learn how to put your important facts into the record during your mock trial.
© National High School Mock Trial Competition®
Objections
This guide is an essential quick-reference resource on common In-Trial Objections used in mock trials. It clearly defines critical objections like Hearsay, Relevance, Lack of Foundation, and Speculation. It provides clear rules for the proper use and scope of each objection, including distinctions for direct and cross-examination, to help young lawyers effectively master courtroom procedure.
Past Problems
Coaches and participants are encouraged to review past problems in preparation during the off-season or leading up to this year’s championship.
Handbook
This handbook is the definitive resource for the 2025 Judge Richard N. Ware, IV Memorial High School Mock Trial Competition, providing the official civil case problem, detailed competition rules, and comprehensive preparation guidelines for students and coaches.
Some of our resources are in PDF. If you need a word version or an accommodation to access, please contact us.
Previous Champions
Every year since 1987, a Louisiana high school has been crowned mock trial champion, paving the way for their opportunity to compete nationally.
All participants are integral to the future of the legal profession. Best Attorneys and Best Witnesses are awarded for their ability to prepare, adapt, and persuade.
Access the List of Champions
Ready To Join Mock Trial?
You can start by checking out the official Handbook and contacting your regional coordinator for your area's competition dates. The new case problem is usually released in November on the this website, and if your team makes it to the top eight in the regionals, you'll compete in the State Competition in the second half of March for the chance to represent Louisiana at the National Competition in May!
Judge Richard N. Ware, IV
This competition is dedicated to and named in memory of the Honorable Richard N. Ware, IV, district court judge for the 39th Judicial District Court of Louisiana.
For nearly a decade, Judge Ware assisted the Young Lawyers Division of the Louisiana State Bar Association in the administration of its various public service projects.
He was particularly devoted to serving each year as the presiding judge of the final round of the Louisiana High School Mock Trial Competition.
Despite the fact that the competition was held in different parishes around the state and at different times each year, Judge Ware was always willing to clear his calendar and devote many hours to serve as a “real” judge for students who had worked so hard to prepare and present their cases.
The Young Lawyers Division of the Louisiana State Bar Association dedicates the high school mock trial program to Judge Richard N. Ware, IV in honor and memory of his dedication and service throughout the years.
Judge Richard N. Ware, IV.
Frequently Asked Questions
Louisiana Mock Trial FAQs
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The Louisiana High School Mock Trial Competition is designed to introduce young people to the art of advocacy, supplement their knowledge of the workings of our court system, and provide them with the opportunity to develop the skills of teamwork and oral presentation.
In the state competition, teams from schools across the state are matched against each other in a courtroom setting.
The students prepare their case as both the plaintiff and the defense and will present before a judge and mock trial jury (i.e., performance judges) at trial.
Each team is composed of students who portray each of the principal players in a courtroom trial. Some will act as the plaintiff(s) whose rights or interests are the subject of the trial or as witnesses whose testimony is a necessary and valuable component of nearly every trial (student witnesses). Others will portray the lawyers (student-attorneys) who will present the case at trial and enjoy the responsibility of making persuasive legal arguments to the judge.
The case problem is fictional. The characters, names, incidents, places, exhibits, and dialogues are used fictitiously and do not refer to or portray any actual persons, places, or institutions.
Any resemblances to actual people, places or events are coincidental and are being used solely for the purpose of providing the students with a comprehensive legal problem to use in the competition.
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All schools within the State of Louisiana, whether public or private, are eligible to field teams at the regional level of the High School Mock Trial Competition.
The top two (2) teams from each of the four regions are permitted to advance to the State Competition, typically in March of each year.
The competition will be an in-person event held at the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, Russell B. Long Federal Building and United States Courthouse, 777 Florida Street, Suite 139, Baton Rouge, LA 70801.
Once a school receives the problem and has compiled one or more teams, it must register its team(s) with the Regional Coordinator.
Schools may enter multiple teams of at least six (6) and no more than nine (9) students, each led by one or more teacher-coach(es) and guided by one or more attorney-coach(es).
Each school is responsible for selecting the teacher-coach or coaches and team members 5 (including three student-attorneys, three student-witnesses, and two alternates).
The schools are also responsible for arranging their teams’ transportation to and from the Regional and State Competition sites.
Further, each team entered into the Louisiana High School Mock Trial Competition is expected to conduct several practice sessions before the Regional Competition.
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The registration form can be found in the Handbook by clicking here.
You can also register online using this link.
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Region 1
Reagan LaPietra
Kean Miller LLP
333 Texas Street Suite 450
Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
318-562-2651 Reagan.LaPietra@keanmiller.com
Parishes: Avoyelles, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, DeSoto, East Carroll, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, Tensas, Union, Vernon, Webster, West Carroll, and Winn
Region 2
Reed Ellis
Broussard & David, LLC
557 Jefferson Street
P.O. Box 3524
Lafayette, LA 70502
(337) 233-2323
Parishes: Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafourche, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Martin, Terrebonne, and Vermilion
Region 3
Rebecca Indest Moreno
720 Richland Ave. Baton Rouge, LA 70806
225-382-3088 rebecca.moreno@sulc.edu
Baton Rouge Bar Association Liaison
Reagan Haik
225-344-4803
Parishes: Assumption, Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana
Region 4
John F. Lee Mollere
Flanagan & Landry
2341 Metairie Rd.
Metairie, LA 70001
504-453-4672
Parishes: Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. Tammany