• $50 application fee per team per competition is due along with your application submission

• $1250 registration deposit fee per team - due within two weeks of acceptance date for admitted teams

  • At this time, we accept payment via credit card only.

This year each team will be required to submit two (2) audio or video responses 2-3 minutes in length. This requirement is to let the Application Review Committee see your team in action and prevent the use of AI in team responses. You will be instructed to upload a link to your team’s recordings in the applicaiton.

Here are some examples from year’s past, so you can prepare for your application.

(Note: questions may change slightly from year to year).

Competition preference

• Let us know which competition(s) your school would like to attend

  • By submitting the Empire Season application, you can apply for a spot at any of the three Empire competitions

• A school may send no more than two (2) teams to a single Empire competition

• Explain why you believe your school is a better fit for Empire Atlanta, Empire Philly, or Empire Chicago.

Coach Application Questions

• The case file is approximately 250 pages, and many schools begin practicing when the case is released in Mid-June. Tell us about your team’s practice schedule, and how you plan to make sure you are prepared to compete by the fall.

• What is the most challenging part of coaching a mock trial team? (other than the hours you are dedicating to your team) 

• What are your goal for your team this season? How will competing an Empire help you achieve your goals?

Student #1 - Application Questions

• Audio or Video. Note, for each student, we’ve requested students to submit one written response, and one recording (either audio or video). 

• Describe your team, including your coaches, what makes your team unique?

• What does civility and professionalism mean to you? Describe a moment where you feel like your team really excelled on this front.

Student #2 - Application Questions

Must be a different student than the one who completed the above questions.

• What is the hardest part of being on the mock trial team? What is the best part? What advice would you give to a younger student who is considering joining your team?

• You’re at a mock trial competition. You walk into the bathroom and see a teammate of yours looking at a piece of paper. They seem to be reading it. At the very top of the paper, it says “Empirion High School, Prosecution Closing Argument.” Empirion High School is your chief mock trial rival. What do you do?