2026 Tournament Dates & Resources
Registration for the 2026 Bales Trial Competition is now closed.
Trainings during lunchtime
- Cross-examination: 1/22
- Closing Statements: 1/23
- Direct-examination: 1/27
- Opening Statements: 1/28
2 Preliminary Rounds
- Saturday, February 7, 2026
- Sunday, February 8, 2026
Final Round: Saturday, February 21, 2026
2026 Bales Rules
2026 Bales Scoring Rubric
2025 Bales Champions!
Defense: Cait Meyer and Geronimo Owen
Finalists
Prosecution: Danny Casement and Sienna Horvath
“I learned a lot about forming a story from questioning my witness, and tying together the important aspects in closing argument. It was really learning by doing!”
The Bales Trial Competition is an introductory-level tournament focused on criminal law. It is designed to introduce first-year students to trial advocacy and encourage them to consider joining the competitive Board of Advocates Trial Team. Typically 32 students participate, requiring approximately 33 volunteer judges. The Bales Family Endowment sponsors the competition.
The Bales Competition features approximately 16 teams of two students, divided between prosecutors and defense attorneys, trying a fictional case. The students receive training on effective direct examination, cross examination, and opening and closing statements. Board of Advocates Trial Team members coach the individual teams and, along with local practitioners, judge the preliminary rounds of the competition. Experienced trial attorneys judge the final round. No previous trial experience is required!
“Great experience to get feet wet in mock trial. Fun planning experience, amazing coaching and overall just a very positive experience.”
How It Works
In the month before the trials, experienced trial advocates will give trainings on effective direct examination, cross examination, and opening and closing statements. In addition, Board of Advocates members will assist with presentation and individual coaching. Teams are expected to practice on their own and to be prepared to present a professional case on competition day. All teams will receive feedback from judges. Those considering trying out for outside competition trial teams are highly encouraged to participate. Again, no previous trial experience is required.
Peter Bales
Berkeley Law alum, Peter Bales (2007), created and generously funded the Bales Trial Competition, which provides a unique opportunity for first-year students to participate in a mock trial. The trial competition is named after Mr. Bales’ grandfather, Bruce Bales, who graduated from Berkeley undergrad and then Berkeley Law in 1949 and went on to serve 25 years in the Marin County District Attorney’s Office, most of which was as District Attorney.
Peter Bales participated in trial advocacy competitions throughout law school and went on to a career in civil litigation as a trial attorney. Mr. Bales has represented clients in jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations in California and New York. He has litigated, tried, and resolved cases on both the plaintiff and defense sides. He also has experience in class actions and multi-district litigation proceedings. He has represented a wide variety of clients, including business entities at various stages, professionals, financial institutions, and insurance companies, in complex litigation involving tort, employment, unfair competition, intellectual property, real estate, and contract claims across various industries. He has also represented and advised attorneys and law firms in legal malpractice claims, ethical issues, and state bar disciplinary matters.