The Appellate Advocacy program is designed to give second-year students a chance to prepare and argue an interrelated question of law and fact in an adversarial setting.  In September, advocates begin a ten-week process of researching and brief writing that culminates in oral presentations of their arguments.  The records and bench memos used in Appellate Advocacy 1 are generated by the Moot Court Executive Board of the previous academic year in conjunction with a member of the faculty.  Each advocate will receive a case record of the lower court’s proceedings and will work in two-person teams representing either the appellants or appellees.  Each student will be assigned one issue to brief and argue.  Briefs are typically 14 pages long (of which, each advocate must write seven pages).  Oral arguments consist of arguing in front of a panel of three to four judges.  The panel is typically comprised of two student judges, one faculty judge, and one visiting judge (a practicing attorney or judge).  Those advocates with the highest total scores will have the opportunity to participate in the Spring Competitions (Van Oosterhout-Baskerville and Jessup Competitions) the following semester. 

Moot Court Activities
For more information on the competitive versions of appellate advocacy offered at the college or on Iowa Supreme Court Day, please click on one of the links below.

Van Oosterhout-Baskerville Domestic Competition
Jessup International Moot Court Competition
Moot Court Board
National Moot Court Team
Iowa Supreme Court Day