DiscoverBoston CollegeMoot Court
Moot Court
Boston College
Our Mission: It is Boston College’s mission to think critically and to engage in multiple viewpoints, culturally, spiritually, and socially. Moot Court lays the foundation for this in cultivating what it means to interpret one of the most important American documents in matters of law, policy, and business. In creating a moot court program, we aim to fill a need faced by pre-law and other pre-professional students here at BC, providing a space for those interested in corporate & appellate law and learning about the legal system as a whole. Rather than appealing specifically to those who plan to be trial attorneys, we are a program made specifically for those who may not even want to enter the legal field, but will nonetheless be dealing with lawyers, regulations, and policy in their chosen career. This could be a CSOM student preparing to open a business in compliance with state and federal regulatory bodies, or a Poli-Sci major hoping to get insight on the judicial system and issues pertaining to the Constitution and its amendments. Practice will also serve as a space to discuss other matters of law and representation, pertaining to HR, social work, and any other field a member is interested in. Practice Logistics: We aim to meet 1-2 times per week to prepare for competition and foster a productive and positive community. Meetings would include presentations on the rules and structure of competition, discussions of current matters of law or policy, and time to collaborate as teams to work on the case. We have several members who have participated in moot court before, who would be more than willing to coach new members on formatting arguments and responding to judges’ questions. There is no one way to argue in moot court, so we are also excited to see everyone’s styles of persuasive writing and to discuss them as a group when trying to find the best rhetoric to employ. We plan to host scrimmages during meetings as well, as we find this is the best way to promote genuine constructive criticism in a safe environment prior to competitions. Competition Logistics: Oral Argument: remotely on Zoom, or in person Brief Writing: submitted online In Oral Argument, students pair off and compete against another pair, in front of 1-3 judges. The teams of two are given a case packet ahead of time, containing a fictional case that typically deals with an issue of constitutional law. Students are additionally directed to read and brief ~10 real Supreme Court verdicts. Based on the given cases and hypothetical scenario, each student must prepare an argument for and against the two issues at contention. Rather than entering evidence or having some team members play witnesses as one would do in a mock trial competition, moot court competitors are assumed to be competing at the appellate level. They are questioned by the judges directly, must improvise answers to alternative hypotheticals, and are not permitted to object mid-round to the opposing team (this must instead be done within the student’s turn, requiring efficient time-management). Moot court competitors can also compete in Brief Writing, which involves similar preparation to Oral Argument (detailed above), but is presented on paper rather than orally in person. This aspect of competition is scored based on organization, writing style, logic & reasoning, and formatting. Student Benefits: A student who participates in the moot court program can reasonably expect to develop or improve skills in: Public speaking Research Persuasive argument Literary comprehension and analysis Additionally, a student is exposed to career preparation that is incredibly important for success in numerous fields: Law: constitutional law, reading a court decision, legal terminology Business: contracts, presentational skills, interpersonal communication Humanities: rhetorical analysis and synthesis of evidence Government: policies, constitutional provisions These are just some of the countless benefits provided to students choosing to pursue any career path; all majors are welcome. EBoard Organization: President: This officer serves as the point of contact for the organization. They will ensure practices and competitions run smoothly, and will designate tasks to other offices as necessary. Vice President: This position is responsible for the secondary point of contact for the organization. Their responsibilities, in addition to the President Position, are to delegate and manage tasks that do not need the Presidents’ direct supervision. They should be prepared to temporarily take over the President position if they are out of commission and thus cannot run the club optimally. Treasurer: This officer is responsible for all the financial affairs of the club. They are primarily responsible for the fiscal budget of the club, and coordinates all communication between OSI in order to get funding. Additionally, they keep track of any and all fiscal costs to be properly compensated by OSI. Secretary: This officer is to take meeting notes, organize club information, and serve as the primary source of information for EBoard and general members. Additionally, they are responsible for efficient and effective communication, particularly between club members and the EBoard. Event Coordinator: This officer is responsible for the logistics of securing spaces around campus to practice and hold social events both within the organization and for the greater student body to participate in. They additionally have relative freedom over the planning and execution of events, and are to consult with other EBoard and general members in what would work best for the organization as a whole. Oral Argument Captain & Brief Writing Captain: These two officers are ideally experienced in their respective competition style, and willing to assist other organization members in crafting their arguments. They are present to offer advice not only regarding rules, formatting, and factual information, but also to be a guide and supportive mentor throughout the year. The EBoard positions are to be assigned at the start of each school year, with alterations after the first semester to accommodate changes in schedule or study abroad commitments. For the time being, the method of selecting the EBoard is via application of interested organization members and subsequent discussion by current EBoard members. A voting process may be implemented later on in the organization’s future, depending on the efficiency and other results from the aforementioned method.