Competitions

Lawrence Negotiation Competition

2011-12 Date: Oct. 17-20
Two teams made up of two people each negotiate in front of a panel of judges. Both teams have "community information" relating to the problem and each team has "secret information" only their side knows. There are two mandatory rounds. Points are given on how well the team negotiates and accomplishes set goals; not on the relative monetary settlement. The winners move on to a Regional Competition against other schools. [More information about this competition]

Mediations Competition

2011-12 Date: Jan 30 – Feb 1
Much like the Negotiations Competition, two teams made up of two people each negotiate with the aid of a mediator (who is not scored) in front of a panel of judges. Both teams have "community information" relating to the problem and each team has "secret information" only their side knows. The winners move on to a Regional Competition against other schools.

Appellate Advocacy Performance Arguments

2011-12 Date: Nov. 7 – 10, 14 – 17 All Moritz students are required to take Appellate Advocacy with Professor Mary Beth Beazely during the first semester of their second year. The course involves writing a Supreme Court style brief based on a current case on the Supreme Court docket. The experience culminates with an oral argument based on the student’s completed brief in front of a panel of judges.

Herman Competition

2011-12 Date:Feb 13 – 15, 20 – 24, 27
Herman is a traditional Appellate Advocacy Style / Supreme Court Style oral argument. Competitors write a brief, argue both on brief and off brief before a panel of judges, and are scored based on a combination of written and oral work. Placement in this competition determines travel team composition the following year.

1L Competition

2011-12 Date: March 30 – Apr. 1
The 1L Competition affords first year students the opportunity to write a short brief and perform oral arguments in front of local practitioners and judges. First year students pair up, and are given a fact pattern and several cases and statues on point with the fact patterns. Each team writes a short brief supporting one side of the argument, and then perform an oral argument in support of their side in front of a panel of judges.

Colley Trial Practice Competition

2011-12 Date: Apr. 6 – 8
The Michael Colley Trial Skills Competition is an intra-school (Moritz law students only) competition showcasing current student's ability to try a case in an adversarial courtroom setting. Each team consists of two attorneys and two witnesses. These teams will have the opportunity to conduct a full trial with four total witnesses, opening and closing statements, objections, and at least two judges to make rulings throughout the case and to give critiques on how the students performed.