Answers to frequently asked questions about trying out for a moot court team and then competing on one!
Why should I participate on a moot court team?
Why not? You’ll improve your writing skills, gain experience in oral advocacy, build your resumé and...it's fun! Employers are interested in students who have a background in moot court as well.
How do I earn a place on one of the moot court teams that the law school sponsors each year?
The Byron L. Warnken Annual Moot Court Competition decides the members of the school's moot court teams. During the competition, you are trained in brief writing and oral arguments by the current moot court board. To compete in moot court, you must have a minimum GPA of 2.8.
What is the Warnken Competition like?
You typically will write an appellate or trial brief to be graded by selected judges and deliver an oral argument in front of a three-judge panel. The Board of Advocates also holds information and training sessions.
What if I have never written a trial brief or an appellate brief or delivered an argument?
Don’t worry! Most people have not written a trial or appellate brief before the competition. The Board of Advocates will offer training sessions to build your confidence in both areas.
How will I learn about these trainings and other competition information?
You can’t miss them! The moot court board regularly sends out emails, posts on Facebook, and distributes fliers to ensure everyone is aware of the competition.
About how many people make a team each year?
There is no concrete number from year to year.
If I am selected to be on a team, when do I compete? Do I receive academic credit?
It depends on the team for which you have been selected. Most competitions, however, are spring competitions. The National Moot Court Team Competition is a fall competition. If chosen, you will receive one credit for every 60 hours of academic credit work done in preparing for your competition. Just like lawyers in law firms, students track their time using a law school-provided time-tracking software program. It's not unusual to put in time that exceeds the maximum credits you can receive for your moot court team experience. This is because our students are competitive and want to win, so they practice a lot!
May I compete as a 3L as well?
That’s up to you! You choose whether or not to participate in your third year.
I want to be on Law Review or Law Forum. Is it possible to be on a moot court team and a journal?
Absolutely! Many people do both.
Can I still be on a moot court team if I'm an evening student?
Most definitely!