Law 697: Moot Court

Moot Court is a graded experiential appellate advocacy course conducted in the fall (2 hours) and spring (2 hours) semesters for a total of four credit hours.  Enrollment is by audition only.  Per ABA Standard 310, in order to earn two credit hours per semester, each student must account for 90 hours of time.  Eligibility for Moot Court requires the prerequisite or co-requisite of Professionalism in Advocacy.  Advanced Appellate Advocacy, Trial Advocacy, and Evidence are highly recommended.

 Students who accept the invitation to join Moot Court will undergo rigorous training with a practitioner coach and periodic bonus critiques from College of Law faculty, Illinois alumni, and additional seasoned practicing attorney volunteers as competition weekends approach.  Students enrolled in the course will also be required to participate in a summer training program that will be provided remotely via Zoom.  The Anderson Center for Advocacy and Professionalism will also provide additional workshops and programs to help with overall development as well as individual optimization.

 Moot Court competitions provide hands-on experiential training for future lawyers.  It also offers student development in prevailing over practical challenges that lawyers typically face in modern legal practice.  In addition to polishing their basic appellate advocacy skills, team members learn to analyze and master a record of trial, draft appellate briefs, navigate an appellate courtroom, engage in a conversation with an appellate court, and effectively employ complicated legal issues.

 Each Moot Court member will participate in two interscholastic tournaments each academic year at both the national and regional level.  Moot Court members will be expected to write a brief for each competition and to be prepared to provide oral argument for each competition.

Students are selected for Moot Court through an audition process which is traditionally held following Spring semester final exams.

Course Sequence and Co/Prerequisites:  Students must complete Professionalism and Advocacy in the Spring semester as a co or pre-requisite.  Advanced Appellate Advocacy, Evidence, and Trial Advocacy are highly recommended.

Evaluation:  Moot Court is a two-hour graded course.  The grading will be on the College of Law’s mandatory curve for upper-level courses.  Grades will be based on participation and performance in the moot court summer training program, a faculty grading of the competition brief, performance in a final appellate advocacy practice session prior to the competition, and finally based on performance in the moot court competition, inclusive of professionalism and contributions to the Moot Court Board throughout the semester.

Course Classification: Experiential