This mod, social studies teacher Laura Barnes has been hosting a series of guest speakers to help her x-block Mock Trial students gain a deeper understanding of the legal system and the world of law.

Some of the guest speakers included Renee C., a social worker with the RCR team for King County. She and her team respond to 911 calls involving individuals experiencing mental health crises.

Additionally, three attorneys from the Eastside Legal Assistance Project (ELAP) joined the class: Kristen S,, the Senior Attorney for domestic violence cases; Nida J., a staff attorney; and Cloie C., an attorney specializing in housing law.

Other guest speakers included Doug Y., a recently retired King County prosecutor with experience in involuntary treatment court also came to the students, and Michael A., a medical investigator with the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Can you tell us more about Mock Trial and the class itself?

This course covers foundational legal concepts, such as the difference between a civil trial and a criminal trial, how cases proceed to trial, and the distinctions between jury and judge trials. We examine which courts have jurisdiction over various types of cases, how sentencing works, and what factors influence whether someone receives a higher or lower sentence. For example, students learn about “aggravating factors” and the legal distinctions between crimes like murder and manslaughter.

The class is very case-study driven. Students participate in simulations where they act as judges, analyzing scenarios and deciding outcomes based on the facts. They walk through the evidence and determine whether someone is guilty or not guilty. This approach provides an introduction to how the legal system works, which often looks very different from how it’s portrayed on television.

Mock Trial also exposes students to a variety of career paths within the legal field and law adjacent roles. For instance, we hosted a social worker whose role as a crisis responder involves training law enforcement—a career option many students had never considered.

We cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time, and I love teaching this course.

How did you find the guest speakers for this course?

I’ve taught some version of this class at other schools, so I’ve maintained connections with a few of the guest speakers. For others, I rely on a lot of cold calling and emailing. I probably reached out to 20 people to get the four or five groups of speakers who joined us. The only guest I personally know is the King County prosecutor from church.

What do you hope students take away from this class?

I want students to understand that not everything is a crime in the legal sense—there’s a specific legal definition for what makes a crime. Additionally, I hope they grasp what happens when a case goes to trial and why so many cases don’t make it to trial, even if someone committed an illegal act.

I also want them to know their rights. Every student leaves this class knowing the Bill of Rights and how to apply it in real-life situations. For example, if a police officer asks to search their car, they’ll know what their rights are.

Finally, I want them to have a basic understanding of legal procedures and terminology, so when they hear legal cases discussed in the news, they can make sense of what’s being said.

What are the plans for Mock Trial moving forward?

Next year, we’re splitting this course into two parts: a competitive Mock Trial team and an Introduction to Law class. The Intro to Law class will be offered during x-block.

This year, we are a club, focusing on learning the legal process, understanding the steps involved in preparing for competition, and working through case packets as if we were competing. This foundational work will prepare us to participate in the Washington State YMCA Mock Trial competition next year.

If anyone—including Forest Ridge alumni—works in the legal field or a related area and would be interested in speaking to our Mock Trial class, please contact Ms. Barnes at lbarnes@forestridge.org.