The National Moot Court Competition
About the Competition
The National Moot Court Competition is an annual inter-law school event designed to promote the art of appellate advocacy. It is sponsored by the New York City Bar Association’s National Moot Court Competition Committee (“Committee”) and the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) and is one of the longest-running and honored competition of its kind. Since 1950, we have promoted the appellate advocacy arts of intellectual rigor, legal research and persuasive argument. This historic competition allows student advocates to hone their appellate advocacy skills before prominent members of the legal profession. Every year, over 120 law schools compete in regional rounds throughout the United States, with winners advancing to final rounds at the New York City Bar Association.
Regional and National Competitions
The Competition consists of regional and national rounds. Each team is initially assigned to a particular region and regional sponsors administer the regional rounds under supervision from committees of the New York City Bar and the ACTL. While the default rule is that each school may send only one team to the competition, schools in Regions 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 12 through 14 may enter two teams. All accredited law schools are eligible to compete; regional breakdown of schools may be found here.
Regional rounds occur in November. The first and second place teams from each region will advance to the National Finals, taking place at the New York City Bar. (Please note, however, that only one team from any given school may advance to the National Finals. Therefore, if two teams from the same school place first and second in the Regional rounds, the first and third place teams will advance to the National Finals.)
Timeline Overview
| May to July | Competition Registration |
| September | Record on Appeal and Competition Rules, prepared by the “Committee” are released to competitors. |
| October | Briefs Due |
| November | Regional Competitions (Date and Location set by Regional Sponsor) |
| December/January | Advancing Teams Prepare for National Finals |
| January/February | National Finals held at New York City Bar |
Why Compete in the National Moot Court Competition?
- It is one of the longest-running competition of Its kind and is consistently kept to high standards.
- Students argue current issues which are before the US Supreme Court, based on the Record on Appeal written by the “Committee.”
- Timeline of the competition is in line with the academic year. Registrations are set by the beginning of the school year; Record on Appeal is released early September; briefs are due early October. All regional competitions occur in November and National Finals are always January/February.
- Cost-effective. One registration fee covers both regional competition participation and National Finals for those schools that advance. Cost is $600; cost for second team is $500.
- The American College of Trial Lawyers is partnered with our competition and lends its support to law school coaches as well as students. To learn more about the ACTL and their benefits to law students, please visit www.actl.com
