Intramural Competitions

The Moot Court Board sponsors two intramural competitions each spring—the Advocates Prize Moot Court Competition and the Jenkins Trial Competition.  Any second- or third-year student may participate in these intramural competitions.

Ray H. Jenkins Trial Competition: The Ray H. Jenkins Trial competition honors the memory of a prestigious member of the Knoxville bar and is supported by the law firm of Jenkins and Jenkins.  It consists of two rounds.  In each round, a student must deliver an opening statement and conduct the cross examination of a witness.  Students are provided with a Trial Record one week prior to the first round and are assigned to either the prosecution or the defense and assigned the witness they will cross-examine.  Typically, students are judged based on their familiarity with the content and purpose of an opening statement and cross-examination and their ability to advocate with confidence and conviction.

Advocates’ Prize Moot Court Competition: The Advocates’ Prize Moot Court Competition allows students to present an oral argument before a panel of judges.  Students are judged on the quality of the oral argument for the competition.  Judges prepare for the competition by reviewing a bench brief, thus they are familiar with the facts, case law, and will ask probing questions pertaining to issues raised.
Judges score each competitor based on a variety of factors including: (1) content and persuasiveness of argument; (2) knowledge and use of legal authority; and (3) poise and effectiveness in responding to questions from the bench.