The Law Magnet Mock Trial team began competing the same year the school opened in 1978. The team primarily competes in the Texas High School Mock Trial Competition sponsored by the State Bar of Texas and the Youth & Government competition. The team has also competed in the Bulldog Yale, Empire, and TOC invitational tournaments.
Students in mock trial, compete in simulated trials. These competitors analyze witness statements, evidence and case exhibits. They develop case theories, implement strategies, conduct direct and cross examination of witnesses and present opening statements and closing arguments. Students may participate as either an attorney, a witness or both. Mock trial nurtures the development of analytical, research and communication skills.
The Law Magnet mock trial team has cultivated a culture of excellence and has received state and national recognition. The team won three consecutive regional championships (2019, 2020, 2021) and has finished in the Final Four at the Texas Bar Association state championship in 2018, 2020 and 2021. In 2023 and 2022, the team won the National Judicial Competition (Y&G).
Law Magnet mock trial students excel in the courtroom, and in the classroom. Recent team graduates attend Berkley Law School, Boston University, Georgetown, Harvard, NYU, Princeton, The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and Yale.
Mock trial is open to students 9th - 12th grade.
Don Gonzalez is the mock trial coach of the Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet in Dallas. He began coaching the team in 2014. Under his guidance the team has qualified to the state tournament each of the last 12 years. In 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2025 his teams finished 3rd in the Texas State Bar competition. He coached the team to back-to-back-to-back Dallas City Championships in 2019, 2020 and 2021. In 2021, he coached the Outstanding Advocate at the Texas State tournament.
He coached the 2022 and 2023, Youth and Government (YG) national champions. Previously, he coached teams to 2nd and 3rd place finishes at the YG nationals in 2021 and 2019.
He earned a B.A. in both Economics and History from Southern Methodist University. He studied law at The University of Texas School of Law. He holds a Masters in Education Administration from UNT and a Masters in Theological Studies from Ave Maria University. He is also an alumnus of the Law Magnet and competed on the mock trial team as a student, winning the City Championships 3 years.
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Our mission is to embrace the pursuit of excellence both inside and outside the courtroom. We encourage critical thinking and emphasize the learning process over rote memorization.