FAQ's
Can I participate in the Intramural Competition without trying out for the Appellate Moot Court Society?
Yes. Students are welcome, and encouraged, to participate in the competition even if they do not wish to join the Appellate Moot Court Society. In addition, all student participants will be eligible to win the competition as well as take home competition awards, including Best Oral Advocate and Best Brief.
Do I have to participate in the Intramural Competition in order to tryout for the Appellate Moot Court Society?
Yes. Students who wish to tryout of Appellate Moot Court must participate in the DePaul Appellate Moot Court Society's Intramural Competition, which will double at the 2007-2008 tryouts. All returning 2nd, 3rd and 4th year law students are invited to participate in the competition. Participants will be required to write an abbreviated appellate brief and participate in oral arguments based on problem that will be distributed in late August. Please refer to the 2007-2008 DePaul Appellate Moot Court Society Intramural Competition & Tryouts link for more details.
Will I receive credit for participating in Appellate Moot Court Society?
Yes. Students who are invited to joint the Appellate Moot Court Society will receive three (3) credits during the semester in which they compete in a Moot Court competition.
How much of a time commitment is required to be part of the Appellate Moot Court Society?
Members of the Appellate Moot Court Society are required to participate in at least twelve (12) mooting sessions with their teammate. During the "mooting session" both members present their oral arguments in front of a panel of three (3) judges. Members prepare their own mooting schedule. Members are required to recruit professors, practitioners or other Appellate Moot Court Society members to make up their three-judge panel for each mooting session. Each mooting session typically lasts one hour.
Members are also required to "moot" other teams for at least ten sessions, approximately ten hours, during the semester. Members must sign up on an individual basis to "moot" their teammates - i.e. members must be a judge during ten (10) mooting sessions for the other members of the Moot Court Society.
Students research, write, edit and submit their briefs solely with their partner, based on a schedule generated by the two-person teams.
What is "mooting"?
Basically "mooting" is the oral presentation of a legal argument. Mooting is one of the closest experiences that a law student can have to appearing in court.
How is the Appellate Moot Court Society different from Trial Moot Court?
The Appellate Moot Court Society deals with appeals, rather than trials. Instead of focusing on the presentation of evidence, testimony and arguments to a jury, the Appellate Moot Court focuses on the articulate formulation of a written appellate brief and the presentation of oral arguments to a panel of appellate judges.
An appeal is a process by with a party attempts to challenged an official decision. By the time a case reaches an appeal it has already preceded through the trial process. On appeal, at least one party to a suit wants to challenge a rule make by a lower court - usually the trial court. Appellate Courts hear cases in which a lower court - either a trial court or lower-level appellate court - has already made a decision. Depending on the jurisdiction, Appellate Courts are called Appeals Courts, Courts of Appeals, or Supreme Courts.
Can I participate in both Appellate Moot Court Society and Trial Moot Court?
No. Students cannot participate in both the Appellate Moot Court Society and Trial Moot Court.
How many members are on the Appellate Moot Court Society?
The Appellate Moot Court Society consists of between 14-20 members.