For the first time since 1999, the Moot Court team from the Cecil C. Humphrey's School of Law has advanced to the final round of the prestigious National Moot Court competition.
The U of M Law School has constructed a team of three second-year law students to compete in a mock-trial competition with other schools from around the nation.
Approximately 200 schools entered the competition. The 200 schools were then divided into 14 regions. The two best teams in each region would advance to the finals, leaving 28 schools to compete for the title.
"We are competing with a lot of name schools - Vandy, UT, Alabama, Ole Miss," said Barbara Kritchevsky, associate dean of the Law school and the Moot Court team's coach.
The Moot Court team members are Shannon McKenna, Todd Richardson and Mark Thompson.
Kritchevsky said the team had to prepare a brief with no outside help and an argument. The brief counts 40 percent of each round. Kritchevsky said that if the brief is bad it is unlikely the team will move on to the next round considering the brief is worth so much of the final score.
Katrina Tucker, chief justice of the Moot Court Board, said one objective of the competition is to argue a problem against other schools in an appellate setting, in front of a panel of judges. The teams are given a problem and must argue the legal aspects of the issue.
Kritchevsky said the team practices the argument as much as they can in front of practice judges.
After much preparation, The U of M Moot Court Team placed second in the regional round against about 12 other schools, which secured their spot in the national competition.
Tucker said it would be a great honor if The U of M team wins because this national competition is the "most prestigious of all Moot Court competitions."
"There are infinite amounts of Moot Court competitions," Tucker said.
She said that with every facet of law, there could be a moot court competition that corresponds.
"They did a great job," Tucker said. "They worked extremely hard, and we are very proud of them and know they are going to do great."
Kritchevsky said this competition is quite an achievement.
"It is great to go to the finals again," Kritchevsky said.
In 1999, The U of M teams placed in the final eight.
Kritchevsky said being involved in this competition is great exposure for The U of M Law School. She said the judges in New York know about the schools they are judging, and it is an honor to get our name out there.
Kritchevsky said being involved in this competition, exposing the Cecil C. Humphrey's Law School to New York attorneys and judges, could help The U of M Law School recruit students.
The final competition will be held in New York from Jan. 30 through Feb. 2.
