CUA Columbus School of Law

Moot Court

One of the largest participatory student groups, the Moot Court Association is composed of students who share strong interests in oral and written advocacy training. The Moot Court Board conducts a three-year training program open to all students, using mock cases to provide instruction in the arts of appellate and trial advocacy.

The trial program offers participants opportunities to prepare and conduct full-length trials. The board attempts to duplicate conditions of practice and procedure of a courtroom.

The appellate program is the largest in the Washington metropolitan area. It includes several intraschool programs available to all upper-class members and provides top competitors opportunities to participate in national and international interschool competitions.

Catholic hosts two of these competitions: the National Telecommunications Competition and the Sutherland Cup. The Sutherland is believed to be the nation's oldest national appellate advocacy competition and attracts competitors from across the nation.

Other interschool competitions that CUA participates in include: National Appellate Moot Court; Jessup Cup (International Law); Wagner Cup (Labor Law); National Telecommunications Competition; National Civil Rights Competition; Environmental Law Competition; National Trials Competition; and Gourley Cup (Civil Litigation).

First-year students are required to participate in "soap-box" competitions, and 10-minute oral arguments judged by upper-class moot court associates, in order to become members during their second year of law school.

How to become a member

Students must first compete in the Soapbox and the LSP Appellate Advocacy programs during their first year of law school. While an upperclassman, students must compete and rank in the top percentage of competitors in an intra-school competition. Approximately 50-75 students each academic year will be offered an invitation to become a Moot Court Associate in December of each academic year.

First-Year Students

Soapbox

Soapbox is an introductory appellate advocacy program for first year students. Participants are assigned to represent a party in a dispute focusing on either constitutional, contract or tort law. Using case law provided in the problem, participants formulate a ten-minute oral argument. Participants deliver their arguments under simulated courtroom conditions before a panel of upper division Moot Court Associates, who serve as judges. Participants are expected to be in courtroom attire and have proper courtroom demeanor. Participation in Soapbox is a requirement for membership in Moot Court.

Problem Distribution TBD

Oral Arguments September 19-27, 2007

LSP Appellate Advocacy Program

This is the second appellate advocacy program for first year students, similar to Soapbox. Participants deliver their arguments before a panel of practicing attorneys from the DC area. Participation in the LSP Appellate Advocacy program is a requirement for membership in Moot Court.

Oral Arguments To Be Determined

Linden Fry, Outreach and Advancement Vice-Chancellor

linden.fry@gmail.com

Upper-Division Students

Current Members

Membership Requirements

Full time day students are required to participate in at least one intra-school competition each of their upper division years. Students must also complete hours as needed. Evening division and part-time students must participate in at least two intra-school competitions over the course of their three upper division years. Students must also complete hours as needed.

Transfer Students

Transfer students must petition, in writing, the Moot Court board for Associate status. Petitions must be submitted to the Chancellor by 5:30 pm on September 21, 2007.

For more information, please contact Susan Toth, Moot Court Chancellor at cuamootcourt@gmail.com

Intra-School Competitions:

The Jessup Cup Competition

The Jessup Cup Competition is an appellate advocacy competition focused exclusively on international law. Participants compete in teams of two. Each team must submit a brief and deliver oral arguments before a panel of practicing attorneys. Participants with the highest overall score (participants are individually judged during oral arguments) become members of the National Jessup Cup team, which is involved in the National Jessup Cup competition throughout the entire academic year.

Problem Distribution TBD

Brief Due TBD

Oral Arguments Sept. 29, 2007

Maria D'Aoust, Jessup Cup Vice-Chancellor, cuajessup@gmail.com

The Securities Law Competition

The Securities Law competition is an appellate advocacy competition, focused exclusively on securities law. Participants compete individually and must submit a written brief and deliver oral arguments before a panel of practicing attorneys, within the Securities field who will act as judges. Participants with the highest overall scores will become members of the National team which is sent to the Irving R. Kaufman Memorial Moot Court Competition at Fordham University School of Law in March.

Problem Distribution TBD

Brief Due TBD

Oral Arguments Oct. 20, 2007

Craig Hilts and David Adams, Securities Law Vice-Chancellors, cuasecuritiesmc@gmail.com

The Communications Law Competition

The Communications Law competition is an appellate advocacy competition, focused on exclusively on communications law. Participants compete individually and must submit a brief and deliver oral arguments before a panel of practicing attorneys. Participants with the highest overall score become members of the National team which is sent to the National Telecommunications Competition at Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in February.

Problem Distribution TBD

Brief Due TBD

Oral Arguments Oct. 13, 2007

Christopher Wieczorek, Communications Law Vice-Chancellor, cuacommlaw@gmail.com

The Constitutional Law Competition

The Constitutional Law competition is an appellate advocacy competition, focused exclusively on current constitutional law issues. Participants compete individually and must submit an appellate brief and deliver oral arguments before a panel of practicing attorneys. Participants with the highest overall scores become members of the National team which is sent to the Sutherland Cup Competition at Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in March.

Problem Distribution TBD

Brief Due TBD

Oral Arguments Oct. 27-28, 2007

Kate Bendick, Constitutional Law Vice-Chancellor, cuaconlawmootcourt@gmail.com

The Trials Competition

The Trials competition provides participants with the opportunity to develop trial litigation skills. Students participate in teams of two. At least one student on the team must have taken or currently is enrolled in Evidence and have an understanding of the Federal Rules of Evidence. Competitors with the highest overall scores are eligible to compete in multiple National competitions which are all held in the Spring semester.

Problem Distribution TBD

Trials Competition Nov. 10-11, 2007

Katie Reardon, Trials Competition Vice-Chancellor, cuatrials@gmail.com

National Moot Court Competitions Hosted by Catholic University

The National Telecommunications Competition

The National Telecommunications Competition is co-sponsored by Catholic University’s Institute for Communications Law and the Federal Communications Bar Association. Teams must submit a brief and deliver oral arguments before a panel of practicing attorneys who specialize in communications law.

Oral arguments: Feb. 1-2, 2008

Further dates TBA

Jennifer Hanley, National Telecommunications Vice-Chancellor, nattel2007@gmail.com

The Sutherland Cup Competition

The Sutherland Cup Competition is the oldest National moot court competition in the United States. It is an appellate advocacy competition focusing on constitutional law. Teams must submit a brief and deliver oral arguments before a panel of practicing attorneys.

Registration Deadline Closed

Problem Distribution 1/15/2008

Brief Due 3/7/2008

Oral Arguments April 11 & 12, 2008

Joe Carlson, Sutherland Cup Vice-Chancellor, sutherlandcup2008@gmail.com

Membership

Jean Maron, Vice Chancellor, Sara Klein-Kapell, Deputy Vice Chancellor

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at cuamootcourt@gmail.com

At the Columbus School of Law, the academic programs are a comprehensive legal education weaving a strong theoretical foundation with sophisticated practical training. This distinctive educational approach furnishes students with the mental tools to face the demands of the 21st century.