Appellate and Trial Advocacy Competition Teams LAW 872

Course Number: LAW 872

Course Credits: 2

This course is graded as a Pass/Fail. After completing an application and selection process, students will have an opportunity to participate in an inter-law school Moot Court, Trial Advocacy, and/or other Advocacy Competition. Participation in such Competition will require the student to (1a) conduct extensive legal research and (2a) write a formal appellate brief for a Moot Court Competition or (2b) prepare a trial notebook, direct and cross examinations, opening and closing statement and all evidentiary arguments for a Trial Advocacy Competition, on the issues researched, with guidance and assistance from the Faculty Coach/Advisor as necessitated by the rules and history of the competition (interpretation should be subject to rules of individual competition). All students must complete at least 10 oral practice rounds before leaving for the Competition.

Upon return from the Competition, each student is required to meet with the Team Advisor to review his or her written and oral performance. Students will also be required to complete a self-reflection of both their preparation and of their competition rounds. Moot Court students may be required to revise the brief or his/her portion of the brief (if the Advisor so instructs.) The Moot Court or Advocacy faculty advisor will then determine if the student's pre-Competition and post-Competition efforts warrant credit. The Advisor will then submit names to the Director of Advocacy who will certify to the registrar that the requirements have been met.

In past semesters the students have competed in: Frederick Douglass Moot Court; National Moot Court; International Environmental Moot Court; Jessup International Moot Court; VIS International Arbitration Moot Court; ATLA Court Competition; National Trial Competition; Georgetown -- White Collar Crime; National Association CDL; NITA - Loyola National Institutional Competition; and John Marshall Criminal Justice Competition.

Each year the Director of Advocacy will designate the Competitions that will warrant Credit. Such determination will be made based on the quality of the competition, budgetary allocations and the learning component expected.