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Moot Court is a simulation of an appellate court
proceeding (also known as mock Supreme Court and
Supreme Court Simulation). Moot Court involves
teams of student-contestants, clients burdened by
a legal problem, briefs and oratory detailing the
dimensions of the legal problem before an appellate
court. Students argue a hypothetical legal
case known as “the competition case.” To
do so, students must research the cases and laws
cited in “the competition case.” Moot
court judges ask students questions and grade the
students on the basis of their knowledge of the case,
their response to questioning, their forensic skills,
and their demeanor. Oral argument lasts 40
minutes (each side gets 20 minutes) and each student
is expected to speak for a minimum of 7 minutes. Judges
usually consist of attorneys, law faculty, or, on
occasion, members of the judicial branch of government.
Why Take Moot Court?
It may be the most fun and rewarding class you will
take as an undergraduate, while also the most demanding
and challenging (See
student testimonials). Some
of the benefits of participation include improved
communication skills, enhanced critical thinking
abilities under duress, improved legal research and
writing skills, enhanced self-confidence and poise,
improved relations with alumni, and likely, enhanced
acceptance rates into law school. Students
considering law school have benefitted from this
class in a variety of ways as it exposes them to
constitutional, case and statutory law. Additionally,
as the testimonials indicate, students form relationships
with other students they may not have if they hadn’t
enrolled in the course; these bonds have extended
far beyond the semester of the class. The class
is challenging, and it is good experience for law
school and a legal career. However, it is also
an amazing experience for students not intending
to follow with law school, pursuing a variety of
academic and career options, as it improves students’ critical
thinking, public speaking and logic. Finally,
students will have access to network with a variety
of important people in the legal, academic, and political
community.
For more information on the American Collegiate Moot Court Association and tournaments please see http://www.acmamootcourt.org/
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