Diane DeGiacomo, now in her eighth year as the lawyer coach for Lenox Memorial Middle and High School’s Mock Trial team, proudly congratulated her students as they swept the Berkshire County competitions winning 3-0 and moved on to represent Region 16 in the state play offs. “I love working with these kids”, DeGiacomo said. “They have a great thirst for knowledge and become more confident in their abilities throughout the season.”

The mock trial program is an annual competition in which members of the Massachusetts Bar Association create a fictional case that is then argued by high school teams statewide. Judges determine the trial winners based on the quality of the arguments and individual performances of the high school student participants. There are 16 regions statewide containing135 high school teams total. This year’s case involves a murder trial, with the defendant alleging self-defense.

The mock trial program has become so popular that nearly 30 kids have joined the team this year, up from the 6 students who made up the team when DeGiacomo first started coaching in 2007.

Read More – Berkshire Eagle: MA Mock Trial Program