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The UPLIFT Middle School Student Experience

About the Program

UPLIFT offers mock trial experience to middle school and law students who reflect the rich diversity of the Twin Cities. Through weekly meetings with volunteer lawyer coaches, eighth-graders learn about the law, trial practice, and written and oral advocacy. They form teams and present their case as the prosecution or defense in a mock trial before a sitting judge. Through this process, UPLIFT students hone their speaking and writing skills. UPLIFT students also start planning for high school and think about how to make long-range college plans. UPLIFT volunteer coaches are practicing lawyers from all areas of practice – private practice, in-house counsel, prosecutors, public defenders, academia, and public interest. They range from retirees to lawyers in their first years of practice.

UPLIFT mock trial students meet once each week with their coaches to learn about the law, the justice system, and trial practice. Each UPLIFT student will be a prosecutor or defense attorney in a fictional criminal case, presented at a local law school before a Minnesota judge.

FAQs:

  • How long does the program run?
    The UPLIFT Mock Trial Program is a six-month afterschool program that begins in October and ends in March.
  • What kind of commitment is required?
    UPLIFT meets once each week, and some weeks students will work on drafting or revising an argument or witness examination between sessions, but most of the work will happen during our meetings.
  • What if I also play a sport or am in the musical at my school? Can I still try UPLIFT?
    YES! Come to UPLIFT! We will talk with your coach or director and find a way for you to do both.
  • I’m not sure about working with volunteer lawyers. Will that be fun?
    Our volunteers have tried all kinds of cases in all kinds of courtrooms, and they are so excited to share their experiences with you and get to know you and support you.
  • I don't have a suit for court. What can I do?
    UPLIFT students have access to the UPLIFT Borrowing Closet, which has suits and courtroom attire in all shapes and sizes to fit all of our students. So you will have the opportunity to wear your lawyer “uniform” for your day in court.

Student Testimonials 

"I liked the mock trial I did in middle school because it was really cool how court is like an argument between two sides that both have points in the case. It was also cool how we got to participate in one. Overall I would say that it was a really cool experience." – Lukeman, UPLIFT 2020 graduate

"Mock trial was really fun because I got to meet people interested in the same things as me. I also really had fun doing the mock trial."  – Ruweyda, UPLIFT 2020 graduate

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Please do not submit any confidential information to Maslon via email on this website. By communicating with us we are not establishing an attorney-client relationship, and information you submit will not be protected by the attorney-client privilege and cannot be treated as confidential. A client relationship will not be formed until we have entered into a formal agreement. You should also be aware that we may currently represent parties whose interests may be adverse to yours, and we reserve the right to continue to represent them notwithstanding any communication we receive from you.

If you would like to discuss possible representation, please call one of our attorneys directly or use our general line (p 612.672.8200). We can then fully discuss our intake procedures and, if appropriate, introduce you to an attorney suited to assist with your matter. Alternatively, you may send us an email containing a general inquiry subject to these terms.

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MEDIA INQUIRIES

We welcome the opportunity to assist you with your media inquiry. To ensure we do so properly and promptly, please feel free to contact our representative below directly by phone or via the email option provided. We look forward to hearing from you.

Emily Gurnon, Marketing Communications Manager | Office: 612.672.8251 | Mobile: 651.785.3616

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This email is intended for use by members of the media only.

Please do not submit any confidential information to Maslon via email on this website. By communicating with us we are not establishing an attorney-client relationship, and information you submit will not be protected by the attorney-client privilege and cannot be treated as confidential. A client relationship will not be formed until we have entered into a formal agreement. You should also be aware that we may currently represent parties whose interests may be adverse to yours, and we reserve the right to continue to represent them notwithstanding any communication we receive from you.

If you would like to discuss possible representation, please call one of our attorneys directly or use our general line (p 612.672.8200). We can then fully discuss our intake procedures and, if appropriate, introduce you to an attorney suited to assist with your matter. Alternatively, you may send an email containing a general inquiry subject to these terms.

If you are a member of the media, accept the terms of this notice, and would like to send an email, click on the "Accept" button below. Otherwise, please click "Decline."