The Island Justice Cup
About

The Island Justice Cup is a competitive mock trial program of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island, supported by the Law Foundation of PEI, for public high schools across the Island.

This program is an English-language extracurricular opportunity, endorsed by the Department of Education and Early Years, open to all 15 public high schools, including English and French language schools and consolidated high schools.

The Island Justice Cup culminates in a tournament taking place on May 4, 2026, at the courthouses in Charlottetown. Teams will present their case in a real courtroom setting and will be evaluated by real judges and justices. Awards will be presented to recognize excellence in various areas.

Schools are asked to identify a Teacher-Advisor to register a team, recruit interested students, support their preparation, liaise with the tournament organizers and Lawyer-Coaches as needed, arrange transportation, and accompany students on tournament day.

Participating teams will receive comprehensive support and resources, including access to mock trial case materials and the assignment of a volunteer Lawyer-Coach. The Lawyer-Coach will work with the Teacher-Advisor and team during the preparation period to support legal learning and advocacy skill development, including trial process, case theory, and courtroom advocacy.

We hope you will consider participating in this exciting experiential learning opportunity! To participate, please register and review the below information.


Each school is invited to register one team.

Registration opens January 12, 2026, and closes February 6, 2026.

At the time of registration, individual student team members do not need to be selected. The Teacher-Advisor may register the team on behalf of the school by completing the registration form. Registration simply indicates the school’s intention to participate in the tournament.

To register a team, please use the registration form here.

FAQ

Q: How can I participate?

A: Participation is straightforward. To take part, your school needs:

  • A Teacher-Advisor,
  • To register the school (see registration details above), and
  • Students willing to form a team and participate in preparation and the tournament on May 4, 2026 (see team composition and selection below).

Q: What is team composition?

A: Teams consist of 6-8 public high school students of any grade (the "core team"). Up to 3 additional students may also form part of the team as alternates. Alternates prepare with the team and may step in if a core team member is unavailable. Teams may choose to use an alternate as the team's time-keeper, or may designate another student outside of the core team or alternates for this role.

Q: How does team selection work?

A: Selection of the team, and the roles within the team, is up to individual schools/Teacher-Advisors.

To register a team, you do not have to have individual team members selected yet.

Students do not have to be part of a current law or civics course to participate, although individual schools may choose to restrict the school team to students in law or other specific courses or a particular grade level, which is at each school’s discretion.

Once selected, the team will prepare to argue both Crown and Defence sides of the case scenario. At the tournament, teams may be required to argue one or both sides, depending on the draw and the tournament schedule. Some team members may be expected to perform more than one role.  

Q: Can I register more than one team?

A: At this stage, only one team per school can be entered, as courthouse space is limited. In exceptional circumstances, where space exists, schools may be permitted to register an additional team. If you wish to submit more than one team, please contact Lindsay at the Law Society at lmclellan@lspei.pe.ca in advance of registration closing, and this request will be considered subject to space availability.

Q: Can I bring a whole class to the tournament?

A: Spectator numbers will depend on the total number of registered teams and available courthouse and courtroom space. Teams will be advised in advance how many spectators may attend.

Parents of participating students will be welcome to attend.

Q: As a Teacher-Advisor, what are my resources and support?

A: The Law Society of Prince Edward Island manages all program logistics, including registration, distribution of materials, and pairing teams with Lawyer-Coaches.

Each team will be assigned a Lawyer-Coach who works with the Teacher-Advisor and students during the preparation period to support legal learning and advocacy skill development.

Additional resources provided include:

  • Official case materials,
  • A comprehensive tournament guide and rulebook,
  • Mock trial instructional videos, including a step-by-step video series.
Importantly, substitute teacher costs for the tournament day will be covered, allowing Teacher-Advisors to attend with their teams.

Lindsay at the Law Society is also available as an additional resource for program-related or legal-process questions.

Q: Why Participate in the Island Justice Cup?

A: The Island Justice Cup is a hands-on mock trial experience that brings learning to life in a real courtroom.

Students work as a team to prepare and present a legal case. Along the way, they build skills that matter both inside and outside the classroom.

Through the program, participants will:

  • Build confidence and communication skills through public speaking, questioning witnesses, and making arguments in court
  • Strengthen critical thinking and teamwork by analyzing evidence, developing a case theory, and working collaboratively
  • Learn how the justice system works in practice, including courtroom roles, procedure, and advocacy
  • Engage directly with legal professionals, including volunteer lawyers and judges
  • Explore future pathways in law, justice, and public service
  • Gain meaningful experiential learning that complements classroom learning while standing on its own as an extracurricular opportunity
For students, the Island Justice Cup offers a challenging, rewarding experience that develops leadership, confidence, and real-world skills.

For teachers and schools, it provides a well-structured, fully supported experiential learning opportunity that promotes inquiry, collaboration, and practical skill development across subject areas.


For any other questions, please contact Lindsay, the Director of Public and Education and Professional Responsibility at the Law Society of PEI, at 902-566-1666 or lmclellan@lspei.pe.ca.



Library/Education Centre
Background:
The Library Committee was responsible for the Law Libraries in Charlottetown and Summerside that were housed at the Law Courts and served as one of the means by which the Law Society, with support of the Law Foundation of PEI, assisted the public on accessing justice and supported the Law Society’s membership. With limited library usage and increased budget pressure, the Law Society in January 2024, following a facilitated re-organization process, opted to transition from the Law Library model to an Education Center model. The Law Libraries in Charlottetown and Summerside were, under the direction and supervision of the Library Committee and the Secretary Treasurer, decommissioned in June of 2024.

Mandate:
The Library Education Centre Committee’s mandate is as follows: (a) oversee completing the Law Libraries' decommissioning process ; (b) in conjunction with the Director of Public Education and Professional Development (Director), generally to oversee the operation of the Education Centre located at the Law Society office; (c) provide direction and assistance to the Director in the building and delivery of education programs for the public to address the mounting challenges concerning access to justice; (d) to provide direction and assistance to the Director in the preparation and submission of budgets for approval by the Law Society and the Law Foundation; (e) to report in writing as required to the Law Society, the Law Foundation and/or Council on the operations of the Centre; (f) to consider and investigate funding sources for the Centre’s operations; and (g) to otherwise support the Centre and Director to further the membership and public interests outlined herein, generally and as directed by Council.

If you have a question regarding research resources, please feel free to contact the Law Society at 902-566-1666 or by email at lawsociety@lspei.pe.ca.