VLRE Releases First Competition Rules

For the first time, Virginia and DC have their own official Competition Rules. The Virginia Law-Related Education Foundation (VLRE) is proud to announce the publication of the 2025 Competition Rules, now available for all participating teams.

These rules closely track the National High School Mock Trial Championship (NHSMTC) rules, ensuring alignment with national standards while codifying the practices and procedures that have defined the VLRE’s competition experience in recent years. “Over the past several seasons, our mock trial community has refined a set of norms and traditions that reflect our competitors’ dedication to fairness, consistency, and educational value. Those practices are now formally incorporated into a unified ruleset designed to guide every level of competition, from regionals to the state championship,” said VLRE Chair Kristin Walinski.

“By putting our practices into writing, we’re ensuring clarity for students, coaches, and volunteers and laying a foundation for continued excellence and transparency as our program grows,” Walinski continued. “I thank the dedicated members of our Rules Committee for their efforts in ensuring we have a comprehensive, thoughtful set of rules.”

The new rules are now available on our VLRE website and will govern all official competitions beginning with the 2025 season. The VLRE Board encourages teams to review the rules carefully as they prepare for competition and to reach out to Laura Strick, the VLRE’s Rules Chair, with any questions.