Why is competing on a moot court team important?
"By participating in moot court, I felt that I was learning the skills of an actual lawyer. I did so much research and writing and became comfortable in advocating a position from both sides. Moot court made me a fierce competitor in law school and in the legal profession.”
UBalt School of Law student Adanna Smith, J.D. ‘19, who won Best Oral Advocate at the National Black Law Student Association’s Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition in March 2019.
Law students sometimes lament the lack of opportunities in the classroom to rigorously work on skills necessary to be great courtroom attorneys. Ask famous litigators, however, and many will tell you that they first began to hone their advocacy skills by participating in a moot court competition.
From first being exposed to the art of oral advocacy in the law school's first-year Introduction to Advocacy class to receiving instruction and guidance in participating in the Byron L. Warnken Competition, students can take advantage of building these skills in a supportive environment before they ever step into the courtroom for a live case.
UBalt law students who participate in Moot Court competitions gain valuable experience and training in written and oral advocacy. By rigorously preparing and then attending a competition, law students also increase their marketability to potential legal employers. Even if you are not interested in becoming a courtroom attorney, the skills that you will be developing--legal analysis, research, writing and oral advocacy skills--are transferable to any job that a lawyer does!
The 2019-2020 Board of Advocates Moot Court Competitors.