Moot Court FAQs

2009 Frequently Asked Questions

Dress
It is appropriate to wear a suit for the rounds. You may dress how you feel comfortable at other times; however, most people will be at least business-casual. Robes will be provied for judges in the moot court rounds.

Meals
Light snacks and beverages will be available Friday evening. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided for participants and judges Saturday and Sunday. A banquet dinner will be held Saturday evening at The Elephant Walk. All food and beverages provided will be vegan. A vegan and vegetarisn dining guide is available at the Harvard SALDF website.

Friday Information Meetings
These meetings are important for participants and judges. Please make all efforts to arrive on time.

Coaches & Guests
Coaches and guests may observe all of their own teams’ rounds. They may not, however, sit in to observe your competitors. If guests will be joining us for the Saturday evening banquet, there is a $20 fee. Please email their names to Laura Handzel at cals@lclark.edu and send payment to CALS by February 1, 2009.

Campus maps are available on the Harvard Law School website. Signs will also be posted on and around the buildings we will be using.

Parking passes and directions may be obtained through mcurran@law.harvard.edu. Please submit any requests before January 30th.

Other teams briefs will be posted on the “participants” website linked through your team numbers.

Writing Briefs v. Oral Arguments
Judges will be provided a bench brief and will not be reading the briefs of each team. It will not matter which side you wrote the brief for during the oral rounds.

There are no written submissions for the Closing Argument Competition

Courtroom Protocal: Introductions
Moot Court:
When you begin your oral rounds, it is best if the first person arguing for your team introduces both team members, say who will be arguing which issues, and if appropriate, how much time you would like to reserve for rebuttal, and who will be rebutting.

Closing Argument
Please introduce yourself to the jurors and inform them whether you will be arguing for the plaintiff or defendant.

Use of Briefs in Oral Arguments
You will write a brief only for Appellant or Respondent, but must argue both sides throughout the competition. Judges may or may not refer to your briefs during your rounds.

Time Warnings
While time warnings are available for the 7, 3, and 1 minute marks, you may request fewer.

Closing Argument Visuals
We understand that traveling with visual aids is a bit tricky. There is a Kinko’s and a Staples nearby.

Interested in volunteering?
Please contact saldf@law.harvard.edu.