Moot Court Competitions

Three weeks ago, I participated in a Moot Court 1L competition.  The Moot Court Honors Board fields teams to participate in competitions with other law schools.  The Cal Western teams are very competitive with a very good success rate.

The process to select the traveling teams is a little complicated.  First, the MCHB holds a competition for student teams.  The competitions ranges from mock trial to appellate to negotiation.  From the competition, the judges designate certain students who have demonstrated the necessary skill set for advocacy as "Distinguished Advocates" (DA).  Second, this status enables the DAs to attend the Trial Skills class.  Finally, then the MCHB selects the traveling team competitors from those attending the class.

While the process might be a little lengthy and complicated, the process results in the best advocates on the teams.  This ensures success for the traveling teams.  While I don't have specific stats, we have been told our teams are very competitive and very successful. 

The 1L competition from three weeks ago was a mock trial competition.  The MCHB held a workshop to teach the basics.  Held on a Saturday, we learned about how to deliver an opening and a closing statement.  Some of us were even given the opportunity to try out our talents.

The workshop was very informative.  We were taught the do's and don'ts for the statements.  The leaders also instructed on developing a theme and a theory for your client's side of the story.  We then saw an example of an opening and closing statement.  The MCHB then let us loose.

We first had to sign up to be a part of the competition.  A little over 85 students signed up for the competition.  We were given a little over a week to prepare for our portion.  The premise was simple:  choose a side and choose a statement.  I chose defense opening - I felt this was the hardest to accomplish.

On a Monday and a Tuesday, we each performed our statement in front of three judges.  The judges not only scored us, they also provided feedback on our performance.  The feedback from Monday, I incorporated into my performance on Tuesday.  But, prior to Monday's performance I gave my statement to my Legal Skills professor who gave me awesome feedback.  I believe she helped me a ton with my performance.

The scores from both nights were totaled and then the competition committee chose the top 15 scores to return on Thursday for the final round.  From the final 15 the judges would chose the best 3 for the winners and then designate some of the participants as DAs.

Because of my Legal Skills professor, I was one of the top 15.  The finals night was not like the other two nights.  Besides the three judges and the timekeeper, we were now performing in front of our classmates and other professors.  Talk about upping the stress and nervous levels!

In the end, all 15 finalists were chosen to become DAs.  At this school, becoming a DA is held in high-esteem.  You can consider it a small step towards becoming a lawyer.  Not everyone gets to be a DA.  Only those who actually sign up for the competition and then only those who were the best can become DAs.

The competition was a great experience.  Learning how to deliver an opening/closing statement was fun.  Delivering the statement in front of the judges was fun.  And the final competition was even more fun.  Of course, when you get selected as a DA that's even better.  I had so much fun, I am considering changing the type of lawyer I wanted to be.  I originally wanted to be a transactional lawyer, but, now I am drawn to litigation - court room litigation.  Maybe even changing from business to criminal!

I believe all students should give the moot court competitions a try.  Even though I really don't have the time and I am already a DA, I've signed up for the next competition open to 1L students.  I'm going to see if I can win it this time.  And, of course, be considered a DA yet again.