Interscholastic Moot Court Teams

National Moot Court Team
Evidence Moot Court Team
Environmental Law Moot Court Team
Frederick Douglas Moot Court Team
International Law Moot Court Team
Labor Law Moot Court Team
Mediation Team
Bankruptcy Moot Court Team
Constitutional Law Moot Court Team
Trademark Moot Court Team
Tax Team
National Trial Team

NATIONAL MOOT COURT TEAM

The UT National Moot Court Team was founded in the 1950s by Professor Emeritus Forrest Lacey. In the Mid-Sixties Professor Joseph Cook took over the program and continues to coach the team to this day, now with the assistance of Professor and Interim Dean John L. Sobieski, Jr. The National Moot Court Team participates in the National Moot Court Competition sponsored by the Bar of the City of New York. Since 1950, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, in conjunction with the American College of Trial Lawyers, has sponsored the National Moot Court Competition. Each year, over 150 law schools compete in the regional rounds throughout the United States and the winners advance to the final rounds which are held at the House of the Association. This prestigious competition allows law students to argue a case in front of prominent judges and lawyers.

National Champions: 1976, 1982
Regional Champions: 1971, 1972, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990
Best Brief, Region: 1975, 1977, 1994

EVIDENCE MOOT COURT TEAM

The Dean Jerome Prince Evidence Moot Court Competition is sponsored by the Brooklyn Law School where it is held each March. The competitions' problem focuses on an issue defined by the Federal Rules of Evidence, and students wishing to apply for the team must take Evidence prior to or concurrent with their application. Tennessee has won three national championships and numerous second place finishes, as well as several first and second best brief awards.

National Champions: 1993, 2000, 2001
Second Place: 1997, 2002
Best Brief: 1997, 2000

ENVIRONMENTAL MOOT COURT TEAM

The Environmental Law Moot Court Competition is sponsored by Pace University Law School in White Plains, NY. The competition draws more than 200 law students from across the United States and Canada, and is recognized as the pre-eminent environmental law moot court competition in the country. Students are judged on appellate brief writing and oral advocacy involving contemporary environmental law issues. The team is coached by Professor Dean Rivkin.

Second Place: 1992, 1993
Best Brief: 1992

FREDERICK DOUGLASS MOOT COURT TEAM

The Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition is an annual moot court competition sponsored by the National Black Law Student Association. The competition is committed to preserving the legacy of the most famous African-American advocate of the 19th Century, Frederick Douglass. The team is coached by Professor Dwight Aarons.

Best Brief: 1977

INTERNATIONAL LAW MOOT COURT TEAM

The Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is attended by over 300 teams from over 80 countries participate in the competition making it the largest moot court competition in the world. The competition is sponsored by the International Law Student Association (ILSA). The team is currently coached Professor Becky Jacobs.

LABOR LAW MOOT COURT TEAM

New York Law School's Moot Court Association administers the annual Robert F. Wagner National Labor and Employment Law Moot Court Competition. Over forty schools from across the country compete in this prestigious event, one of the largest student-run moot court competitions in the United States. The team was is coached by Professor Jeff Hirsch.

MEDIATION TEAM

2003-2004 is the first year Tennessee has participated in the ABA Representation in Mediation Competition. The focus of this competition is on attorney representation of clients in mediation. The judging criteria are designed to reward those participants who use a problem-solving approach in the mediation. Two member teams act as lawyer and client where the problem-solving approach is defined as one in which negotiators learn about each other's interests and BATNA's (Best Alternative To A Negotiated Agreement), brainstorm options, and select and shape a solution that meets their interests and, where appropriate, objective standards. The team complements recent growing interest in the area of Alternative Dispute Resolution in the College and the legal community. The team is coached by Professor Becky Jacobs.

BANKRUPTCY MOOT COURT TEAM

The Judge Conrad B. Duberstein Moot Court Competition is sponsored by St. John's University School of Law and the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI). This is the nation's only moot court competition devoted entirely to bankruptcy. The competition is designed to promote and recognize the finest student oral and written advocacy on a significant problem in bankruptcy practice. It is not required or even expected that students have taken a course in bankruptcy or creditors' rights. The team is coached by Professor George Kuney.

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW MOOT COURT TEAM

The William B. Spong, Jr. Invitational Moot Court Tournament is sponsored by William and Mary College of Law annually in Williamsburg, VA. Approximately 20 teams from across the nation compete in this tournament, which boasts a distinguished panel of judges from state and federal courts. The team is coached by ProfessorOtis Stephens.

TRADEMARK MOOT COURT TEAM

The Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition was established in 1990 to introduce law students to the challenging and varied issues involved in trademark and unfair competition law. Mr. Lefkowitz served in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for more than 30 years. Regional arguments are held during the month of February in New York, Chicago, Atlanta and San Francisco. National finals take place in March and are conducted in Washington, DC. With cash prizes totaling over US $4,000 are awarded. The team is coached by Professors Carol Parker and Gary Pulsinelli.

South Region Champions: 2003
National 2nd Best Brief: 2003

TAX TEAM

The tax teams at Tennessee have participated in two different competitions. One is a traditional appellate advocacy competition focusing on tax issues sponsored by the Florida State Bar. More recently, teams have entered in the ABA Law Student Tax Challenge which founded in 2001 to allow students to compete in a more transactional setting. Applicants to the ABA Tax Challenge submit a memorandum of law and client letter addressing an advanced problem in federal income business tax. The top six written entries are selected to compete in the ABA Section of Taxation Mid-Year meeting held at the end of January. The competition consists of an oral presentation and defense of the memorandum to a panel of mock-senior partners. Finalists present and explain their letter and the transaction to a panel of mock-clients. The Tax Team has been coached by Professors Amy Hess and Don Leatherman.

Second Place: 1994, 2004
Best Written Submission: 2004
Stetson National Tax Moot Court Competition, Best Brief: 1987

NATIONAL TRIAL TEAM

The National Trial Competition, co-sponsored by the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) and the American College of Trial Lawyers, is one of the oldest and most prestigious mock trial competitions in the United States. Every ABA-accredited law school in the country is invited to compete in this annual competition. The top 2 teams from each of the 13 regional tournaments advance to the championship rounds in Texas. The team is coached by Professor Gary Anderson.

Regional Champions: 2003, 2004
NACDL Competition Champions: 1990
ATLA Regional Champions: 1980

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