Elementary School
Mock Trials

Law Day 2008 celebrates the 26th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Take part in your area with the Elementary School Mock Trials.

The Elementary School Mock Trials are a free program offered by the Ontario Bar Association. Individual lawyers or teams of lawyers are encouraged to present this program at an elementary school of their choosing. Volunteers who have no preference as to which school they attend will be matched with a school as they become available. The program is presented on two separate days with a time commitment of about 60 minutes on Day 1 and 90 minutes on Day 2.

Prior to Day 1, the teacher will have assigned the various roles of jury, witnesses, lawyers, etc. to their students.  On Day 1, the lawyers attend the classroom and provide the students with an overview of the Canadian Criminal Justice System, introduce the fact scenario for the mock trial, and then ‘walk through’ the various duties of the jurors, the witnesses and the lawyers.  It is helpful to spend some time with the lawyers to guide them in their preparation for Day 2.  About a week later, the lawyers re-attend the classroom to preside over the trial.  Ideally, the trial will occur during Law Week, which in 2008 will run from April 14th to 18th.  In classes where two lawyers volunteer, one can preside as judge while the other lawyer acts as ‘consultant’ in the event the various participants need some gentle direction during the mock trial.  This second lawyer also acts as ‘jury consultant’ to keep the jury deliberations focused and timely. 

2008 Mock Trial Case (Elementary Students)

In order to be linked to a lawyer and take part in the program, please register your class by completing the registration form. Please click here for the registration form.

Shortly stated, the fact scenario is as follows:

On a fine spring morning in a small Ontario town, Chad is sent by his father Vlad to borrow a neighbour's garden hose to fill up Vlad's swimming pool. Unfortunately, Vlad and Chad are new to town from a place far away and may not be aware that you have to get permission to borrow a neighbour's property. As a result, not only does Chad the teenager not ask for permission from the neighbour, Jerry Redcap, he also pushes him out of the way on the way out of Redcap's back garden.

The police pick up Chad for an unspecified reason while out canvassing for a charity. Chad does not speak English well, and does not know that he has legal rights. He is arrested and charged with theft under $5,000 and assault. He is brought to trial under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

2008 Elementary School Mock Trial Outline

Charter of Rights & Freedoms - Legal Rights

Registration Form

Teachers, students, or lawyers who would like to sign up for the 2008 Elementary Mock Trial should do on or before Friday, March 30, 2008. Please contact:

Jeffrey S. Percival or Filippo Conte at elementary@lawdayontario.ca