The Board of Advocates annually supports students competing on one of six teams focusing on appellate advocacy. This typically involves competition problems focusing on wide-ranging legal issues involving civil rights, constitutional criminal procedure, international law, and potential legal issues to be heard before the Supreme Court of the United States due to, for example, a split in the federal circuits. Which one is best for you?
Sponsored by the National Black Law Students Association, this competition involves hundreds of participants in five regional events across the nation. This competition requires the team to prepare a brief to a mock U.S. Supreme Court, in the prescribed format, and to present positions at oral argument before renowned practitioners and adjudicators in multiple scored rounds. Only three teams advance from each regional competition to the national competition. Success at any level requires a strongly analytic intellect, exceptional teaming skills, a rigorously written brief, and oratory prowess.
Jessup is the world's largest moot court competition, with participants from roughly 700 law schools in 100 countries and jurisdictions. The competition is a simulation of a fictional dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the judicial organ of the United Nations. One team is allowed to participate from every eligible school. Teams prepare oral and written pleadings arguing both the applicant and respondent positions of the case.
The Compromis is the springboard for the Jessup Competition. Written by leading scholars of international law, the Compromis is a compilation of agreed-upon facts about the dispute that is submitted for adjudication to the ICJ. After the Compromis is released, students begin researching and preparing arguments for both sides of the dispute, drafting and editing written pleadings, called 'memorials,' and practicing oral presentations. Each team prepares two written memorials and two 45-minute oral presentations, one for each party to the dispute (the 'Applicant' and the 'Respondent'). Teams argue alternately as Applicant and Respondent against competing teams before a panel of judges, simulating a proceeding before the ICJ.
The John J. Gibbons Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition focuses on timely issues of criminal procedure and criminal law. Held at the Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark, N.J., the competition hosts 40 law schools from across the country. Each team may consist of two or three students. Each team writes one brief, representing the party of its choice. Each team argues both sides during preliminary rounds of oral argument. The problem is distributed to all participants about one month prior to the competition. Teams are permitted to begin oral argument practice prior to their brief submission.
The preliminary competition consists of two rounds. The competition banquet is held
on Friday evening, at which time the advancing teams are announced, as well as brief
and preliminary round oralist awards. The elimination rounds are held on Saturday
morning and afternoon at the law school. An awards ceremony follows the final round.
Awards are given at that time to the first- and second-place teams, semifinalists,
and best oralist in the final round.
The ABA Law Student Division National Appellate Advocacy Competition is a moot court competition that emphasizes the development of oral advocacy skills through a realistic appellate advocacy experience. Moot Court competitors participate in a hypothetical appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court by writing a brief, as either respondent or petitioner, and then arguing the case in front of the mock Supreme Court.
The National Moot Court Competition is an annual inter-law school event designed to promote the art of appellate advocacy. It is sponsored by the New York City Bar Association's National Moot Court Competition Committee and the American College of Trial Lawyers. It's one of the longest running and most honored competitions of its kind.
This historic competition allows student advocates to hone their appellate advocacy skills before prominent members of the legal profession. Every year, over 120 law schools compete in regional rounds throughout the United States, with winners advancing to final rounds at the New York City Bar Association. Learn more about the National Moot Court Competition.
The Tax Section of the Florida Bar Association hosts the National Tax Moot Court Competition annually. The format of the competition consists of a first-round double elimination oral argument, followed by single-elimination quarterfinals, semifinal and final rounds. There is a separate competition for written briefs, with independent judging and awards.
The problem consists of three or four issues, all tax-related. For preliminary rounds of the oral argument competition, judges are made up of attorneys who are members of the Florida Bar Tax Section. The final and consolation rounds consist of judges from the U.S. Tax Court.