Practice-Ready

Moot Court

Students are given the opportunity and time to dive into a real and complex legal issue in Moot Court classes, and the opportunity to build on what they have learned in Legal Writing & Research. Students are able to hone and further develop their legal research and writing skills with on complex legal issues that they could potentially face as practicing attorneys. Moot Court topics are chosen from real cases pending before an appellate or a supreme court. Students gather facts from an actual record, research the law, and write an appellate brief on behalf of one of the parties. The experience culminates in a formal oral argument held in a courthouse before a three-judge panel. Moot Court classes are taught by practicing attorneys with the real-world experience.

Moot Court Competition Teams

UC Law SF has one of the most successful and well-respected Moot Court programs in the United States. The success of our Moot Court competition teams adds to the tradition of excellence synonymous with UC Law SF. The National Jurist and the Blakely Institute have consistently ranked UC Law SF as one of the top Moot Court teams in the country. UC Law SF has placed among the top four teams in the country for the past five years.

Competition team members are selected from open tryouts held in the spring. The student team members are evaluated holistically, and selected on the basis of a résumé, a writing sample, a short oral argument, a personal interview and Moot Court class performance. UC Law SF Moot Court competition team members receive two units of credit for their participation. The school and our alumni donations pay all travel costs, including airfare, food and hotel, for competitions held outside of the Bay Area.

150 to 200 students try out for the Intercollegiate Moot Court Competition teams each year. Moot Court competitions are a popular practical training experience in the UC Law SF curriculum because they provide excellent experience in legal research, analysis, writing, and oral advocacy, good contacts in the legal community, résumé value, and a great sense of accomplishment, teamwork, and school spirit.

We are enjoying another year of remarkable success thanks to our hardworking and extremely talented students, adjunct faculty, coaches, and judges, who are active participants in training and supporting our student competitors at every level. UC Law SF has established itself as a Moot Court competition winner and we will continue to build on its reputation as a powerhouse in Moot Court and a prominent training ground for future lawyers.

Each year, UC Law SF participates in numerous intercollegiate Moot Court competitions, both regional and national throughout the United States, covering a wide range of current legal issues.

Moot Court Board

Upon successful completion of Appellate Advocacy, second and third-year students who enjoyed their Moot Court experience and wish to contribute to the program may join the Moot Court Board. Moot Court Board members:

  • Act as teaching assistants in Moot Court and Appellate Advocacy classes
  • Attend organizational and informational meetings
  • Hold office hours and provide personal assistance to students enrolled in Moot Court and Appellate Advocacy
  • Serve as coaches for Moot Court teams

Give to the Moot Court Program

Please consider making a donation to the Moot Court Program.

Make an online gift or send a check indicating that the contribution is for the Moot Court Program. Gifts made payable to UC Law SF College of the Law are tax-deductible. The tax ID number is 94-2581680. If you have questions regarding your contribution to UC Law SF, please call the UC Law SF Alumni Center at (415) 565-4665.

Donate your time! Alumni participation is needed for coaching competition teams, judging Moot Court oral arguments, Appellate Advocacy arguments, and practice arguments for our championship competition teams. Contact Toni Young to donate your time.