The Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) is seeking legal-profession volunteers to support the 45th Annual Contra Costa County High School Mock Trial Program in January and February 2026.
More than 150 scoring-attorney and presiding-judge roles remain unfilled, and CCCOE is calling on attorneys, law students, paralegals and retired legal professionals to step in.
Volunteers will help either as scoring attorneys in the jury box or as presiding judges on the bench, observing high school students participate in full-scale timed trials. According to CCCOE, no prior trial-law experience is required, just the willingness to share time and insight with aspiring young legal minds. The competition is serious and immersive, with students stepping into roles such as attorneys, witnesses, clerks and bailiffs, deepening their courtroom knowledge and public-speaking skills.
The tournament begins on Jan. 27, 2026 at the A.F. Bray Courthouse in Martinez and will run over seven weekday evenings:
• Jan 27 (Prelim #1)
• Jan 29 (Prelim #2)
• Feb 03 (Prelim #3)
• Feb 05 (Prelim #4)
• Feb 10 (Quarterfinals)
• Feb 11 (Semifinals)
• Feb 17 (Finals)
Volunteers earn MCLE credit via the Contra Costa County Bar Association. The winning team will advance to the state competition and could progress to the national level.
For more information and registration, please visit CCCOE’s Mock Trial webpage or contact [email protected]
