Advocacy Teams and Competitions
Advocacy teams and competitions accustom you to the etiquette and environment of a courtroom while sharpening the skills you need to build a persuasive argument. The UBalt School of Law offers two types of advocacy activities.
Moot Court Teams
UBalt sponsors several moot court teams. Students who participate in these teams build their written and oral advocacy skills by composing briefs and making appellate oral arguments in regional and national competitions. The Byron L. Warnken Moot Court Competition is held each year to select students for UBalt’s moot court teams.
The UBalt School of Law Tax Moot Court Team was named second runner-up for oral argument in the 2019 National Tax Moot Court Competition. The UBalt team made the semi-finals of the competition four out of the past five years and was named second runner-up for the past three years.
The UBalt School of Law’s Inter-American Court of Human Rights Moot Court Team won the award for best brief in English at the 2018 Inter-American Court of Human Rights moot court competition.
Trial Teams
Trial teams conduct full trials in a competitive atmosphere. Students who participate in these teams learn how to present a case to a jury using persuasive trial tactics. UBalt sponsors teams in three trial competitions:
- American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law Student Trial Advocacy Competition
- National Black Law Student Association Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition
UBalt School of Law student Adanna Smith, J.D. ‘19, won Best Oral Advocate at the National Black Law Student Association’s Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition in March 2019. She also won first place and Best Oral Advocate at the regional competition in February 2019.
- National Trial Competition
Student Publications
As a member of a student-run law journal, you will gain experience in research and writing and work closely with your peers to produce a scholarly publication. Journal members solicit articles from law faculty across the country and also write comments on topics of their own choosing. Each journal sets academic requirements for membership and selects members through a writing competition. You can earn as many as 8 academic credits by participating in either journal.
University of Baltimore Law Review
The University of Baltimore
Law Review
, the law school’s flagship journal, publishes three issues a year under the direction of its student-led executive board. Each issue provides in-depth analyses of issues of current concern to the legal community. Law Review membership reflects a student’s academic excellence and top-notch skills in legal analysis, research and writing. The spring 2020 issue included articles on immigration law. In November 2019, the Law Review presented a two-day conference titled “400 Years: Slavery and the Criminal Justice System.”
University of Baltimore Law Forum
Founded in 1970, the University of Baltimore
Law Forum
is an award-winning legal journal featuring articles and news of recent developments in the law. Law Forum membership reflects a student’s excellence in scholastic achievement, as well as strong capabilities in legal analysis, research and writing. Law Forum is published under the direction of a student editorial board and staff. In February 2020, the Law Forum presented a symposium titled “The City Charter: Does it Work for a 21st Century Baltimore?”
Student Spotlight: Christian Coward
“Serving as an editor on Law Review supported my growth as a legal writer and gave me the opportunity to build lasting relationships with peers. The writing, research and Bluebooking skills I developed have helped me make a positive impression in professional work experiences.” — Christian Coward, Class of 2021
While at UBalt, Christian has been a staff editor and symposium editor for the UBalt Law Review; a Fannie Angelos Scholar; a student ambassador with the Office of Admissions; a Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin & White Fellow; a research assistant; and a member of the Black Law Students Association. Christian received his bachelor of science from Bowie State University.