Youth & Government / National Judicial Conference (NJC)
Build Skills That Hold Up
in Court and Life
At the National Judicial Competition (NJC), high school students from across the country step into the courtroom—presenting arguments, analyzing cases, and gaining the confidence to think, speak, and lead like legal professionals.
What to Expect
NJC gives top-performing MLC delegates the chance to take their legal skills to the next level. Students choose one of two tracks—Mock Trial (criminal court) or Model Supreme Court (appellate)—and prepare to argue real cases on a national stage.
In the lead-up to the competition, 10 delegates and 2 alternates participate in virtual prep sessions and a local 1-day in-person training in California. Then, they travel to Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota, to compete alongside peers from across the country—expanding on the courtroom processes they learned during MLC while building high-level reasoning, speaking, and advocacy skills.
Applications for the 2026 California NJC delegation will open this Fall. Applicants for NJC must participate in the same year’s MLC program. Sign up for MLC through your local Y! For more information, email AliSheaffer@ymcaLA.org.
Dates & Times
Dates for NJC 2026 are coming soon! Application materials and key deadlines will be shared in January 2026.
Ready to Join?
Who Can Join
Only current YMCA MLC participants (9th-12th grade) are eligible to apply. We select up to 10 delegates and 2 alternates to represent California at NJC.
Interested? Join your local Model Legislature & Court delegation.
Pricing
We’ll share details about pricing and need-based scholarships for NJC 2026 soon.
Where You’ll Be
NJC is hosted in Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota by the Center for Youth Voice. Before traveling, California delegates participate in a local 1-day training and virtual prep sessions.