The Iowa State Bar Association announced on Apr. 29 that it will host the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Des Moines next week, welcoming top high school teams from across the country and internationally.
Students, coaches, and families are scheduled to arrive starting May 6 for registration, orientation, and scrimmages. The event will begin with a pin exchange at Drake Stadium on May 7, followed by competition rounds on May 8 and 9. The championship will feature state champion teams as well as international participants. Courtroom artists and journalists will also take part in their own competitions during the event.
While all judging panels have been filled by volunteers from the legal community, organizers say there is still a need for courtroom liaison volunteers. Those interested can sign up through Tabroom.com by creating an account and selecting available time slots under the “Volunteer Signup” tab for the championship tournament.
According to the official website, the Iowa Bar Association promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal profession. It utilizes its headquarters in Des Moines for administrative operations and member events. The association honors excellence through awards recognizing contributions to law and public service, serves over 6,500 lawyers and judges licensed in Iowa, supports its members’ professional growth while encouraging service to clients and communities, is governed by a board of 47 elected members from judicial districts across Iowa, and provides resources as well as education aimed at enhancing legal practice statewide.
During this period of preparation for hosting duties, ISBA offices will be closed next week so staff can focus fully on ensuring smooth operations throughout the national competition. As a result, there will be no edition of Iowa Lawyer Weekly during this time frame; response times from staff may also be delayed.