Fall Leagues Reimagined
We’re taking that momentum of online mock trial and the Spring Leagues and turning it into something new: Empire’s Fall Leagues.
This fall, teams have the chance to compete in two unique leagues designed for every level of experience:
The Competitive League: For teams hungry for a challenge, this league resembles a traditional mock trial competition, four trials culminating in a playoff series, the perfect way to elevate your skills, test your strategy, and face off against top competitors all vying for the title of “Empire Champion”.
The Developmental League: For teams looking to gain confidence, practice in a real mock trial setting, and learn from every round - without the pressure of ballot scores - this league offers affordable access and flexible scheduling to fit your team’s goals.
Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or a team just getting started, the Fall Leagues are your chance to get in the game, build your skills, and experience the best of what mock trial has to offer—without the financial stress.
This is online mock trial, reimagined. We can’t wait to see what you’ll bring to the table.
Keep reading to learn about the Two Leagues and what to expect this fall.
CASH PRIZES.
TWO LEAGUES.
GLOBAL STAGE.
ONLINE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL.
CASH PRIZES. TWO LEAGUES. GLOBAL STAGE. ONLINE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL.
The Competitive League -
$500 includes access to case materials, webinar series, judges opening and closing ceremony.
Any school is welcome to apply for the Competitive League. This league replaces the former Empire Online competitions and is designed for teams seeking a high-quality, challenging experience. To maintain a strong competitive field, the Competitive League will be capped at 40 teams on rolling application basis.
The Schedule
The Competitive League is created with you in mind. The League is designed to give teams the flexibility to build their own schedule over a two-week period in October.
Here’s how it works:
Teams will have access to a digital sign-up sheet listing trial dates, times, and available slots.
You’ll sign up for four trials total: two as Plaintiff, two as Defense.
Each trial date will have 20 team spots available. This means not all teams will compete at the same time, but every team will have the opportunity to schedule their four required rounds.
To ensure fairness, you won’t see who else is signing up for a particular time slot until official pairings are released.
Teams will use the Empire 2025 Case File, including the pre-trial oral argument.
The Final Playoffs will take place on set dates over the course of a single weekend, culminating the season with a competitive, championship-style showdown.
Why This Format?
We’ve learned a lot over the years from running online competitions. One key takeaway: rigid, single-weekend schedules just don’t work for everyone. Teams often face conflicts with sports, academic events, or other commitments, leading to last-minute drops or missed opportunities.
That’s why we’ve designed the Fall Leagues to offer maximum flexibility without compromising the integrity of the competition. By giving teams the power to schedule their own trials, we’re creating a system that’s adaptable, efficient, and designed to meet your needs.
The Tab Room
If you are an Empire veteran you know that we follow a Tabulation Manual to run our competitions, this includes how we score trials, handle disputes, and pair teams. This Fall Leagues format is brand new for all of us. We look forward to providing you with a Fall Leagues Tab Manual later this summer.
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The Makeup
The Developmental League is open to all teams - whether you’re just getting started, or simply looking for more practice in a low-pressure, high-impact environment. .
There’s no minimum trial requirement - you decide how many trials to sign up for based on your team’s goals and availability.
The Developmental League is your chance to focus on skill-building, team chemistry, and trial strategy with a complex and engaging case, setting you up for success at your state competitions.
The Schedule
Just like the Competitive League, the Developmental League runs across a two-week period in October. But there’s no need to commit to four trials.
Here’s how it works:
Teams will access a digital sign-up sheet with available trial dates, times, and slots.
You can sign up for as many or as few trials as your team’s schedule allows.
Each trial day has 20 team slots available, so there’s plenty of flexibility to find the right times for your team.
Teams will use the 2025 Empire Case File with access to the pre-trial oral argument - the same materials used in the Competitive League- giving you the chance to practice with the same level of rigor and complexity.
What Empire will provide vs. what You will Bring
Empire provides the platform: We handle the logistics, scheduling, and virtual trial infrastructure.
You bring your own judge: Teams are responsible for providing at least one judge to facilitate a Developmental Trial between two other teams. This can be a coach, attorney, or former mock trial competitor. This allows your team to receive comments from a third party judge as you refine your skills, theory, and performance.
Why this format?
You might be wondering “what are we thinking in creating the Developmental League”?
Our goal is simple: to provide more teams with the opportunity to access our resources, case materials, and platform in a way that’s manageable for us, and for you. We know that not every team is looking for a full, high-stakes tournament experience—sometimes you just want a space to practice, learn, and improve at your own pace.
Just like off-season training in sports - whether it’s summer league basketball, or a local rec soccer league- this format gives your team a chance to get reps, build skills, and grow without the pressure of playoffs or financial strain.
By offering a lower-cost, lower-pressure option, we’re creating more opportunities for teams of all backgrounds to participate in mock trial, gain valuable experience, and build toward future success.
The Developmental League - $275 sign up. Includes as many or as few trials as you want to compete in. Access to Webinar series.
Fees
Each registration fee includes admission to a League, its Opening and Closing Ceremony, and all trials.
Title I schools: $0
Note: To receive free admission, the NCES must list your school as having received Title 1 School-Wide aid on their site. You can search for your school here.
Top 5 at ‘24 Empire: $0
Runner-up at ‘25 state finals: $0
All other teams: $325
Other items, such as t-shirts or Empire swag, will be available for purchase online.
$75 discount for providing qualified judge / juror*
Note: Individual must be graduated from high school, have a minimum of two years of coaching or competition experience, and be willing to score at least two rounds of competition. The organization reserves the right to reject a judge it deems unqualified. One discount per team, though we encourage you to invite as many qualified individuals as you know to volunteer!
The Case
Released early April
Original and topical case prepared just for the Spring League.
No Guest Witness or Pre-Trial Oral Argument component
But don’t worry–these will be back for the regular season this Fall.
Case size and components will vary by League.
Sapphire: 3 witness affidavits, must call all 3. Expect to offer fewer exhibits.
Premier: 4 witness affidavits, must call 3 out of 4.
How It’ll Run
Spring Leagues will operate like a typical Empire Online competition using our PROcess software to enter Zoom courtrooms and view scores;
Scores and written feedback will be released immediately after the conclusion of the round;
Each courtroom is its own Zoom conference room;
Get best practices for presenting in virtual court (they are no longer required), but feel free to decide how you’d like to present your materials;
Review our Empire Online Setup Guides, outlining best presentation practices here;
Have an Empire staff member assigned to your courtroom, who you can message at any time if a problem arises.
A sneak peek of PROcess in action.
The Schedule
Rules & Policies
2024 in Review
SPRING LEAGUES CHAMPION
Santa Susana High School
Sapphire League
51 teams
21 states
3 countries
Premier League
18 teams
11 states
2 countries