LEWISTON — A group of Lewiston High School students will take on roles of defense lawyers, prosecutors and witnesses when they compete for the Mock Trial state finals Thursday.

In what Lewiston High mock trial coach and social studies teacher Michelle Crowley described as “an excellent performance,” Lewiston students defeated Berwick Academy on in the semi-final round. Lewiston students defeated Brewer High School in the quarter final in November, Crowley said.

On Thursday, Lewiston will compete against the mock trial team from Cape Elizabeth High School. The competition will take place in a Portland courtroom before Maine Chief Justice Leigh Saufley.

Getting to the finals means a lot of work and talent, Lewiston School Superintendent Bill Webster said.

“The success of our mock trial team is a tribute both to the the drive of these students, and the challenging program offered at Lewiston High School,” Webster said Monday. “Our community should be very proud of what they have accomplished.”

The goal of the mock trial competition is to teach high school students about the legal system, attorneys’ roles, rules of evidence, effective communication, critical thinking and team work. Lewiston students are coached by local lawyers Darcie Beaudin, Ron Lebel, Adam Lee, Thomas Faiella and Paul Dionne. Dionne is Crowley’s father.

Lewiston High began competing in mock trials in 1995. The school has made it to the state finals several times, but has not won the state title.

The Mock Trial Competition is sponsored by the Maine State Bar Association with support from the Maine Bar Foundation.

— Bonnie Washuk