Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School (PALCS) in Chester County was among 16 Pennsylvania high schools that advanced to the 38th annual Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Statewide High School Mock Trial Competition finals, held virtually on March 26 to 30. The competition is coordinated and sponsored by the PBA Young Lawyers Division.

This year, 232 teams from 199 high schools competed in district and regional levels of Pennsylvania's mock trial competition in hopes of gaining one of the 16 spots at the statewide competition that was held virtually for the first time. Pennsylvania's competition is one of the largest in the nation.

During the competition, eight-member student teams are given the opportunity to argue both sides of a case in an actual courtroom before a judge. The students, who play the roles of lawyers, witnesses, plaintiffs, and defendants, are assisted by teacher coaches and lawyer advisers in preparing for competition. Lawyers and community leaders serve as jurors for the mock trials. The juries determine the winners in each trial based on the teams' abilities to prepare their cases, present arguments, and follow court rules.

For more information about the PBA Statewide High School Mock Trial Competition, visit http://www.pabar.org and look for "Mock Trial Competition" under "Events and Education."