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School of Law

Advocacy and Moot Court Competitions

Advocacy and Moot Court Competitions

The University of St. Thomas School of Law annually participates in several national moot court, trial advocacy and negotiations competitions. Administered by the Board of Advocates, these programs provide 2L and 3L students with a unique opportunity to hone their written and oral advocacy skills—skills integral to the real-world practice of law.

Advocacy Competitions

  • Moot Court
  • Trial Advocacy
  • Negotiations
  • Moot Court

    Moot court is appellate advocacy, where students argue a hypothetical case on appeal to the Supreme Court, a circuit court or a state supreme court. Each experience requires participants to write clearly, speak persuasively and think quickly.

    The School of Law has developed high-performing moot court teams with a strong record of success at the following competitions:

    • Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
    • American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition
    • New York City Bar Association National Moot Court Competition
    • Evans A. Evans Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition
    • Giles Sutherland Rich Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition
    • USPTO National Patent Application Drafting Competition
    • INTA Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition
    • William E. McGee National Civil Rights Moot Court Competition

    Trial Advocacy

    Participants in trial advocacy competitions gain excellent experience practicing actual trial skills before distinguished members of the bench and bar. St. Thomas School of Law has fielded mock trial teams at the following competitions:

    • American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition
    • Texas Young Lawyers Association National Trial Competition

    Negotiations

    Negotiations competitions simulate legal negotiations in which law students, acting as lawyers, identify legal and factual issues, develop strategies, and negotiate a series of complex issues. St. Thomas School of Law sends teams to the American Bar Association Law Student Division Negotiation Competition each year.

    Moot Court

    Moot court is appellate advocacy, where students argue a hypothetical case on appeal to the Supreme Court, a circuit court or a state supreme court. Each experience requires participants to write clearly, speak persuasively and think quickly.

    The School of Law has developed high-performing moot court teams with a strong record of success at the following competitions:

    • Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
    • American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition
    • New York City Bar Association National Moot Court Competition
    • Evans A. Evans Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition
    • Giles Sutherland Rich Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition
    • USPTO National Patent Application Drafting Competition
    • INTA Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition
    • William E. McGee National Civil Rights Moot Court Competition

    Trial Advocacy

    Participants in trial advocacy competitions gain excellent experience practicing actual trial skills before distinguished members of the bench and bar. St. Thomas School of Law has fielded mock trial teams at the following competitions:

    • American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition
    • Texas Young Lawyers Association National Trial Competition

    Negotiations

    Negotiations competitions simulate legal negotiations in which law students, acting as lawyers, identify legal and factual issues, develop strategies, and negotiate a series of complex issues. St. Thomas School of Law sends teams to the American Bar Association Law Student Division Negotiation Competition each year.

    Writing Competitions

    Participate in writing competitions and refine your skills.