There are three intraschool competitions in which students can participate:

• Advanced Moot Court Competition
• Mock Trial Competition
• Freshman Moot Court Competition

Advanced Moot Court Competition
The Advanced Moot Court Competition begins shortly after Labor Day. This competition gives second- and third-year students the opportunity to practice and improve skills in appellate advocacy. Teams of two students write an appellate brief and then present oral arguments.  Each team argues both the petitioner’s and respondent’s position. 

First-year students may serve as bailiffs during oral arguments, giving them an opportunity to observe appellate advocacy before competing in the Freshman Moot Court Competition in the spring semester.  Participation as a bailiff does not count toward Moot Court credit. 

Scores on the brief and from oral arguments are a factor determining eligibility for membership on the Moot Court Board. Successful completion of the competition goes toward obtaining credit for graduation. 

The problem for the Advanced Moot Court Competition is prepared under the direction of the Associate Justice for the Advanced Competition.This year’s problem is available on TWEN.

If you have any questions regarding this competition, please contact the Associate Justice for the Advanced Competition.

Mock Trial Competition
The Mock Trial Competition is held at the beginning of each spring semester.  It is open to second- and third-year students, offering them an opportunity to practice and improve skills in trial advocacy. Two-person teams submit a a motion and trial notebook and participate in a mock trial. Each team represents both the plaintiff and the defendant. 

The plaintiff team for each round must provide two witnesses and a bailiff. The defendant also must provide two witnesses. It is each team’s duty to ensure that witnesses are briefed and prepared to testify. Participating as a witness or a bailiff provides first-year students with an opportunity to experience trial advocacy. Participation as a bailiff or a witness does not count towards Moot Court credit. 

Students need not have completed Trial Advocacy or Evidence in order to compete successfully.

Scores on the trial notebook and from performance on oral arguments are factors in determining eligibility for membership on the Moot Court Board. Successful completion of the competition goes towards obtaining credit for graduation. 

If you have any questions regarding this competition, please contact the Associate Justice for Mock Trial.

Freshman Moot Court Competition
The Freshman Moot Court Competition is open only to first-year students.  The competition is held each year during the spring semester, providing first-year students with the opportunity to practice and improve skills in appellate advocacy. Teams of two present oral arguments based on the Legal Methods II appellate brief assignment. Each team member argues both the petitioner’s and respondent’s position. The scores for the competition are based solely on performance during the oral arguments.

The petitioner team must provide the bailiff for the round. The bailiff may be anyone who is not currently a participant in the competition. 

Scores from performance during oral arguments are a factor in determining eligibility for membership on the Moot Court Board. Successful completion of the competition goes toward obtaining Moot Court credit for graduation. 

The problem for the Freshman Moot Court Competition is written by members of the Moot Court Board under the direction of the Associate Justice for the Freshman Competition.  Legal Methods II adjunct professors give the students information on how to access the problem during the Spring Semester. 

If you have any questions regarding this competition, please contact the Association Justice for the Freshman Competition.

Pointers for Credit-Worthy Oral Arguments
Judges typically look for:

• Forensic Ability
• Knowledge of the Law
• Responsiveness to Questions
• Argument Form
• Argument Substance
• Appropriate Attire
• Deference to the Court
• Persuasiveness