I've been invited to Moot Court round 2. Must I? Forum

[Anonymous User]

The first round was mandatory and I'm pretty sure I'm going to decline the invitation to continue. Is that a bad idea? I'd rather do journal and work, but mostly, I simply cannot -stand- public speaking. Not that I'm bad at it (I made it to round 2 [top 25%]), it just makes me super uncomfortable. I'd do it only if employers love to see moot court participation.

Any words of wisdom?

P.S. I'm interning with an art. III judge this summer and am at the top of my class after the first semester, if that factors into your analysis of whether I need moot court.

[Cupidity]

A little more info about your school's freaky 1L moot court?

[Anonymous User]

I'm not sure what you mean. We wrote briefs worth 50% of our writing class grade, then those same briefs were worth 50% of the moot court competition (the other 50% was an oral argument). I got an A on the paper, and IDK how I did on the oral argument but must have done well enough to advance to round 2. If you are in the top 10% of the class (so 2/5ths get past round 2), you get invited to join the moot court honor society.

As for the program itself, I have no idea what they do. Participate in competitions or something, I guess.

I go to a low t2 school, by the way.

[tbaker757]

Our system was different as well...we did a brief that was 30 percent for the first few rounds and then after that it was all oral arguments. 75 people signed up at and top 8 got spots. My brief carried me through the first through and was eliminated in round of 8. Is yours a school wide mandatory competition? If you signed up for ours and then dropped out before you were eliminated you were blackballed from all journals, future moot court and Trial advocacy. If there is no penalty I wouldn't think it would matter but definitely look into that. I go to an upper T2.

[Anonymous User]

Yes, it's mandatory. It's part of our 1L writing class curriculum; everyone has to participate in the first round. I'm not worried about being blackballed or anything, just wondering if I'm passing up a valuable opportunity. I could probably make it if I tried, but I am almost certainly not going to continue.

[monkey85]

What do you want to do professionally?

Say you want biglaw - go for it, add the line to the resume. After you land the 2L SA, then you slack off. Until then, balls to the wall your 1L year.

Conversely, if moot court provides no support for your professional aspirations, then feel free to slack off in the competition starting now.

[Anonymous User]

The first round was mandatory and I'm pretty sure I'm going to decline the invitation to continue. Is that a bad idea? I'd rather do journal and work, but mostly, I simply cannot -stand- public speaking. Not that I'm bad at it (I made it to round 2 [top 25%]), it just makes me super uncomfortable. I'd do it only if employers love to see moot court participation.

Any words of wisdom?

P.S. I'm interning with an art. III judge this summer and am at the top of my class after the first semester, if that factors into your analysis of whether I need moot court.

Mooter here.

I and my fellow mooters have found moot court to have marginal value when it comes to employers. I don't think it will really help you much if you're already at the top of the class, but it probably can't hurt to try it out. The only reason it's mattered for me is because I want to do appellate work and moot court was obviously the best way to demonstrate that while getting experience in it. I got a part-time job on the side last summer that has continued into this school year with an appellate specialist after meeting with her and talking about a MC competition brief I did. Other than that, I don't think it's really mattered.

That said, I was like you and HATED public speaking at first, but I grew to really enjoy appellate argument. I think it's a great way to hone your speaking skills and really does teach you how to control an oral argument. Granted, it's an appellate-style argument, but it's helped in motions, etc. I think MC is fun and would encourage you to do it.

[LawIdiot86]

I would only do it if the results have any impact on getting law review. If you have top grades and law review, no firm will care about moot court. If your grades sagged to the margin of who gets biglaw at your school or you didn't get law review, then you will need an extra bullet on the resume.

[Napt]

Probably not worth it. Firms look at moot court as the football team of law school. hth

[bns_77]

-Law school is only three years of your life.

-Moot court is something that could aid in your job prospects, contrary to some of the "wisdom" you'll see on TLS

-If you'd rather do journal, some schools allow you to defer moot court (thus, you can add the line on your resume about making the team while not actually doing anything with it)

-A lawyer who hates speaking in front of people is probably a lawyer who should learn how to speak in front of people

-I say do it... Who knows maybe you'll fuck up in Round 2 and there's your out.

[Shaggier1]

but mostly, I simply cannot -stand- public speaking.

Then this sounds like a great opportunity to overcome that...

[smokyroom26]

I would do it. If you do well, that is one more positive line on your resume. Some judges specifically state that they look for success in moot court re: clerkship hiring.

[Anonymous User]

sounds like you go to brooklyn. if you havent decided already, DO IT.