Fall Moot Court Competition
Each year, the Fall Competition is held early in the fall semester for second year day and third year evening students. The students are responsible for composing an appellate brief based on a hypothetical case. The students are then broken into groups and each person argues one of the positions. The students present their appellate oral argument before a panel of judges composed of Moot Court Board Members. In the Fall Competition, there are two rounds of oral arguments, followed by a Finale showcasing the two competitors with the highest cumulative scores. From the Fall Competition, up to 14 students are invited to join the Moot Court Board based on a composite of their first and second round oral scores and their written brief.
Who Can Compete?
2D and 3E students who have taken, or are in the process of taking, LAWR II can compete in the Fall Competition. If you are a 2D or 3E student, do not register for the Moot Court course offering to compete in the Fall Competition -- you will not be receiving credit for participating in the competition. Instead, you will be given an intent-to-compete form during the moot court informational meeting on Tuesday, September 11th. When you complete and hand in this form, it will serve as notification to the Moot Court Board of your intent to compete in the Fall Competition.
Upon completion of the Fall Competition, up to 14 of the top students will be asked to join the Moot Court Board. The only other way to become a Member of the Moot Court Board is to compete during the Spring in the Myerowitz Competition. However, fewer spots on the Board are reserved for those who do exceptionally well during the Myerowitz Competition. Note that if you are a second year day student taking LAWR II in the Spring, you will not be eligible for the Fall competition. You are encouraged, however, to compete in the Spring.
Important Dates Before Competition
MANDATORY Informational Meetings for those wishing to compete: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 from 12pm-1pm in Room 107 or Thursday, September 13, 2012 from 5pm-6pm, also in Room 107. At this meeting, we will discuss the competition and hand out the intent-to-compete forms. The intent-to-compete forms will be due the following Friday, September 14 at 5 pm.
Fall Competition Schedule:
- Friday, September 14
- Intent to Compete Forms Due at Moot Court Board Office by 6 p.m.
- Must be handed in to compete
- Friday, September 9:
- 9:00 a.m. Blackboard
- Problem will be posted to Moot Court Fall Competition Blackboard Page
- Wednesday, September 19:
- Problem will be emailed directly to competitors by 9:00am.
- Thursday, September 20:
- 3:15-4:15 p.m. Time and location to be announced.
- Optional seminar on appellate brief writing presented by the MCB in Room 460 the Moot Court Board. Attendance is not required, but is strongly encouraged.
- Monday, October 8:
- 6:00 p.m.
- Appellate Briefs from ALL competitors due by 6:00 p.m. (more information to come about the method participants will use to turn in briefs).
- October 19, 20, 21:
- First Round Oral Arguments
- October 26, 27, 28:
- Second Round Oral Arguments
- October 31 (tentative):
- Fall Competition Finale in the Ceremonial Moot Courtroom
Questions about the Competition or Moot Court in General?
Feel free to contact...
Moot Court President Emily Patterson at OR
Fall Competition Chairpersons Claire Durante and Laura Ruiz at
If you cannot make to the mandatory meeting, please contact Claire Durante or Laura Ruiz immediately.
We look forward to an exciting and successful competition and hope to see everyone at the informational meetings.
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