1. Determine your space type
Do you have a designated room? Will you be using part of a classroom? Consider classroom size. Assess the dimensions of the classroom where the furniture will be placed. Our Solution Design Team can help you ensure that the mock trial furniture fits comfortably within the space without causing overcrowding, hindering the flow of the room or blocking pathways. Here is an example of a classroom that doubles as a mock trial room. Notice the judge’s bench, witness stand, attorney tables, and lectern are in the back of the room. The classroom desks are facing the front of the room. Some academies have separate, designated rooms for mock trials.
2. Research what other Schools have done
Look for inspiration and models. Find some that you like. Ask yourself what you like about it.
We visited two high school law academies to see how their mock courtrooms were working out. See pictures and read about those visits here: Mock Trial Furniture in the Field
Check out three different examples of academy courtrooms below.
- Multi-purpose room: One room for classroom and mock trial furniture. See Jordan High School below.
- Designated Mock Trial room: Includes judges bench, witness stand, attorney tables, lectern and jury box. See Florin High School below.
- Designated Mock Trial room: Includes all furniture found in courtroom including benches for public seating. See JFK High School below.
3. Consider scope and scale of project
Working with schools, we’ve found that most educators have unique spaces and a range of budgets. Many public and private schools come to us with grants for developing career skills and/or participating in affecting government policy. Depending on your budget, we’ll tailor law academy furniture to your specific educational needs. Most schools end up with some combination of the following three:
- Limited budget and space? – Start with a Judges bench.
- Want the simplest ordering process? – Opt for a courtroom suite. We offer 4 different suite styles. Each comes will matching judge’s bench, witness stands, lectern and attorney tables.
- Want a totally custom courtroom? – We work with you to develop a lasting solution for your specific needs.
4. Get feedback from other teachers and educational institutions
Ask other teachers and administrators what worked for them.
I asked Jeff Johnson, Law Teacher, Jordan High School, what the process was like for him. Here’s what he said “I wanted to put courtroom furniture in my classroom, so I googled “courtroom furniture” and Agati came up. I contacted them. The process was easy. The furniture arrived. They set it up. Everything went great. The furniture is great. The kids love it.”
I asked Carlos Garcia, Law Teacher, Elk Grove High School, what the process was like for him. Not only was he happy with everything, but he generously offered to communicate directly with other teachers to share his experience and tips he learned. If you would like his email address, please contact me at rashelle @ agati.com.
5. Get tips from courtroom furniture designers
Agati’s Design Solution Team is here to answer any questions you might have. Here are a couple tips for common issues:
Tip from Joe Agati Jr.: “For educators with limited budgets, focus on the Judge’s Bench. For example, on the right, you can see the Charles-DePaul Judge’s Bench and Witness Stand. Instead of getting the full plaintiff and defendant’s tables with modesty screens on the front and side panels, they saved money by using our Primary Tables for the attorney tables”
Tip from Joe Agati Sr.: “For well-built, heavy furniture pieces like our lecterns, you don’t need locking casters. The weight of the furniture is such that the furniture will not move unless pushed with a lot of force. When people get locking casters, they often don’t realize one (or more) is still locked when they try to move it, and ultimately end up dragging it with locked wheel(s). If you want casters, then opt for regular, non-locking casters when the furniture is heavy.”
6. Consider gallery seating and jury box
Does your mock trial space have room for public seating? Can you fit two rows of chairs in a jury box? How many students or spectators can you fit in the gallery? Traditional matching courtroom benches (DePaul Bench and Brown Bench) are more stationary, but really set the tone if your academy has the designated space.
7. Look for suppliers who provide customization options
As a solutions-driven company, we specialize in customization. We know every space is unique and we are motivated by building custom solutions that are made for your space. Read more about custom courtroom solutions here.
8. Verify warranty and track record of supplier
Research reputable suppliers that specialize in courtroom furniture for educational settings. Look for a company with a track record of providing quality products and excellent customer service.
We’re a family-owned and operated company in the USA, building furniture for schools for 35+ years. We got our start building public and university library furniture, so we know a lot about durability. Check out our warranty and read more about our story.
9. Contact us
Wondering what happens when you contact us?
You’ll get an email or a phone call from us. We’ll ask you if you already know what you want, or if you would like to schedule a design call to review your project.
During your free design consultation, we can provide renderings and floor plans. Our Solution Design Team will work with you to generate a solution and pricing specific for your needs.
10. Leave it to us!
We can assess the dimensions of your classroom and ensure that the selected courtroom furniture fits comfortably within the space without causing overcrowding, hindering the flow, blocking exits or limiting accessibility. In addition to design and layout, we can work up conceptual renderings of your chosen furniture to help you visualize the finished space.
We build all of our furniture custom for your project. Since our furniture is built and finished in the USA, delivery and installation at your school is relatively simple. Of course, they are designed to be disassembled and relocated when necessary.
Ready to learn more? Have more questions? Contact us today!
