Moot Court (Wiley Rutledge Moot Court Competition)

1 unit

Description The Wiley Rutledge Moot Court Competition entails a simulation of appellate practice. Every participant will work together with a partner on an appellate brief and will appear together with their partner in at least two oral arguments. (Note: partnerships can be formed after enrollment, meaning it is not necessary to identify a partner before signing up.) Credit is awarded on a "pass/fail" basis, meaning that all students who fulfill the minimum participation requirements will receive passing credit. Opportunities for additional distinction come in the form of writing awards, speaking awards, and awards for advancement in the tournament. The competition is judged by experienced attorneys, including active judges from trial and appellate courts at both the state and federal level. Unlike other interscholastic moot court teams that require application, audition, and selection, the intramural Wiley Rutledge competition is open to any and every student who decides to enroll. (Note: in a typical year, all waitlisted students end up receiving the opportunity to participate once a number of initial enrollees decide to drop the course due to scheduling conflicts or other reasons.) Participating students are required to be in residence in St. Louis during the fall semester; therefore, students who are enrolled in an out-of-town externship or study abroad program are not eligible to enroll. Participating students must also have prior experience in researching and drafting an appellate brief; Legal Practice in the 1L curriculum for JD students satisfies this requirement, but non-JD and transfer students should ensure they have completed the equivalent of this instruction before enrolling in Wiley Rutledge. (Note: students are permitted a maximum of 4 total credits for competitions, they are permitted to enroll in only one for-credit competition per semester, and this credit does not count as one of the Law Classroom Units required for the J.D. degree.)