If you have questions about our Seminar Program, please refer below to our Frequently Asked Questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Seminar Program is a two-day training program designed to teach both beginners and seasoned competitors the secrets to our success. For the past 20 years, our National Champion All-American Attorneys and Witnesses have shared the Harvard “tricks of the trade” with thousands of high school students from all over the country.
In our two-part program, students rotate between interactive lectures and smaller breakout sessions. Our lecturers teach the fundamental skills of mock trial and our breakout leaders help students apply those skills in preparation for a collegiate-level scrimmage. In both settings, we work directly with students to teach them the same techniques that our witnesses and attorneys employ to win perfect 10s on judges’ ballots.
Though 2025 is the 20th year of the Seminar Program, it is the tenth dedicated to Angela R. Mathew '15. Angela was a neurobiology student from New Mexico, a former Seminar Director, and a dear friend. On February 10, 2014, after earning the distinction of All-Region Witness and pushing Harvard to a first place finish, Angela died in a car accident as our team returned to campus. Angela was 20 years old.
We remember Angela at these seminars and will continue to do so for as long as they run, not only because of her contributions to HUMTA but because we can all learn from her vibrant personality, her unbelievable intellect, and her profound kindness.
Your weekend schedule will depend on the option you select. We offer five packages that cater to your goals for the weekend and offer access to pre-recorded lectures, live demonstrations and Q&A's, HUMTA's Secrets to Success—our student-written guide to all things mock trial--and social events.
If you select Option 2 or 3, our in-person programming your weekend will consist of six live lectures, personalized breakout sessions, as well as social programming, such as panels, so as to interact with HUMTA members directly. At the end of your seminars weekend, your team will compete in a scrimmage to practice all you've learned against another school.*
If you select Option 1, our most foundational program, which features six live lectures, the same social programming as the other options, and our HUMTA's Secrets to Success.
* Scrimmage availability depends on team size.
Yes! Our Seminar Program is designed to help anyone from beginners to well-seasoned competitors improve their mock trial skills and practice writing and performing materials with their team. When you register, you will be asked to indicate whether you are a novice or advanced competitor so we can properly cater to your skill set.
Our 2025 Seminar offers two separate programs on October 11-12th and November 1-2nd. We are offering an in-person program with the option of a fully virtual model. The virtual option will be an online program that takes place over Zoom, while the in-person option will include fully in-person programming. You can refer to our Registration Guide on the Seminar page for more details on both sets of options and how to register your team.
We welcome individual attendees, but we evaluate the logistics on a case-by-case basis, so do not hesitate to reach out. If you are considering registering for a Seminars program as an individual, please reach out to us at harvardmockseminars@gmail.com so we can discuss your options.
Yes! Our registration form will ask you to select the option your school plans to participate in, though if your school would like to change its selection after submitting the form, they are welcome to. If you register as an individual, the same applies. Reach out to us at harvardmockseminars@gmail.com if you need to update your information after registering.