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At my lower T-14 school's 1L moot court competition (to get on the moot court team), my appellate brief got the second highest score (out of 100+ 1L competitors). But I did so badly in the oral argument that I didn't get a position on the moot court team. Should I include in my resume the fact that my appellate brief was ranked second in the moot court competition?

I was going to leave it out because it's embarrassing that I didn't make it on to moot court, but 2nd place isn't too shabby, although I didn't get any award/recognition or anything for it.

Thank you in advance!

Anonymous User wrote:At my lower T-14 school's 1L moot court competition (to get on the moot court team), my appellate brief got the second highest score (out of 100+ 1L competitors). But I did so badly in the oral argument that I didn't get a position on the moot court team. Should I include in my resume the fact that my appellate brief was ranked second in the moot court competition?

I was going to leave it out because it's embarrassing that I didn't make it on to moot court, but 2nd place isn't too shabby, although I didn't get any award/recognition or anything for it.

Thank you in advance!

I definitely would.

Not OP. Similarly, my team placed second in a national moot court competition (we were among the only 1Ls competing). Is "Finalist" worth putting on a resume under honors or is runner up to this sort of thing not really a notable honor?

Anonymous User wrote:Not OP. Similarly, my team placed second in a national moot court competition (we were among the only 1Ls competing). Is "Finalist" worth putting on a resume under honors or is runner up to this sort of thing not really a notable honor?

I think you'd be crazy not to put it.

OP - no.
"Not OP" - yes.

Anonymous User wrote:At my lower T-14 school's 1L moot court competition (to get on the moot court team), my appellate brief got the second highest score (out of 100+ 1L competitors). But I did so badly in the oral argument that I didn't get a position on the moot court team. Should I include in my resume the fact that my appellate brief was ranked second in the moot court competition?

I was going to leave it out because it's embarrassing that I didn't make it on to moot court, but 2nd place isn't too shabby, although I didn't get any award/recognition or anything for it.

Thank you in advance!

you either got onto moot court, or you didn't.

you didn't. Don't put it on your resume. (or do you feel the need to explain to every interviewer how badly you suck at oral arguments?)

..

sublime wrote:Semi related, but thoughts on how to handle being signed up for the moot court competition, but not doing it until fall?

If you're a 2L, I don't think it matters. If it does, try

Activities: Moot Court (starting Fall 2014)

Anonymous User wrote:At my lower T-14 school's 1L moot court competition (to get on the moot court team), my appellate brief got the second highest score (out of 100+ 1L competitors). But I did so badly in the oral argument that I didn't get a position on the moot court team. Should I include in my resume the fact that my appellate brief was ranked second in the moot court competition?

I was going to leave it out because it's embarrassing that I didn't make it on to moot court, but 2nd place isn't too shabby, although I didn't get any award/recognition or anything for it.

Thank you in advance!

Definitely. I would say "Best Brief Finalist" or "Brief Ranked 2 of 160" or whatever.

FWIW, I'm a recent grad currently doing a federal clerkship. So, no expert, but I've seen a lot of resumes.

OP here. Thanks for everyone's feedback-- I sincerely appreciate it. If I do include it, any suggestions on how to answer if I'm asked about why I'm not on the moot court team?

You could say they were looking for excellent oralists but you didn't make that particular cut. Honestly, oral argument skills mean nothing to 90% of lawyers, but strong brief-writing is almost universally valuable.

I would include it in your resume if you're at all looking for things to put in. If your resume is already chock full of great stuff, leave it out.

NorCalLaw wrote:You could say they were looking for excellent oralists but you didn't make that particular cut. Honestly, oral argument skills mean nothing to 90% of lawyers, but strong brief-writing is almost universally valuable.

I would include it in your resume if you're at all looking for things to put in. If your resume is already chock full of great stuff, leave it out.

Surely there has to be a way to do it without making clear that you didn't make something off of it, right?

Mock appellate brief placed 2nd out of 100 briefs in 1L appellate competition.

I mean that's not even stretching the truth.

I wouldn't put it unless you won best brief or top advocate. If, however, it was a regional or national competition then I would put it.

NorCalLaw wrote:You could say they were looking for excellent oralists but you didn't make that particular cut. Honestly, oral argument skills mean nothing to 90% of lawyers, but strong brief-writing is almost universally valuable.

I would include it in your resume if you're at all looking for things to put in. If your resume is already chock full of great stuff, leave it out.

Unless you're trying to be Public Defender, then they think you would rather be writing briefs than being in court.

Anonymous User wrote:

NorCalLaw wrote:You could say they were looking for excellent oralists but you didn't make that particular cut. Honestly, oral argument skills mean nothing to 90% of lawyers, but strong brief-writing is almost universally valuable.

I would include it in your resume if you're at all looking for things to put in. If your resume is already chock full of great stuff, leave it out.

Unless you're trying to be Public Defender, then they think you would rather be writing briefs than being in court.

Do you even defend publicly?