National Animal Law Competition (NALC)

2010

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Registration
Competitors may register for any two of the three events comprising the National Animal Law Competitions.  A separate registration fee is required for each individual Competition.  Only the Legislative Drafting & Lobbying Competition is open to first year law students.  Registration officially opens at 1 p.m. (PST) on November 10th and closes on January 4th.  A full refund minus a $15 administrative fee is available until December 1, 2009.  After this date, no refunds will be given.

For the Appellate Moot Court Competition, only one competitor will register on behalf of the team.  They will indicate their teammate by registering them as “Guest.”

Dress
It is appropriate to wear a suit for all competition rounds. You may dress how you feel comfortable at other times.  Most people will be at least business-casual. Robes will be provied for judges of the Appellate Moot Court Competition 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 Harvard Law School. All food and beverages provided will be vegan. A vegan and vegetarian dining guide is available on 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 other teams. If guests will be joining us for the Saturday evening banquet, there is a $40 fee. Please email their names to Liberty Mulkani at lmulkani@aldf.org and send payment to CALS by January 28, 2010.

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

Hotels

We have secured a rate of $149/night plus tax at the Harvard Square Hotel (www.hotelsinharvardsquare.com) which is approximately a 10 minute walk from Harvard Law School. To book at room at this hotel, please call the reservations desk at: (617) 491-2222 or email reservations@theinnatharvard.com and ask for the “National Animal Law Competitions” group rate (group code: 276869). Some rooms are available with two double beds to cut down on accommodation costs.

Another hotel option close to campus is the Irving House at Harvard (www.irvinghouse.com). This hotel has a friendly, rooming-house feel and includes a hearty continental breakfast, free local calls, DSL internet access, cable TV, and passes to local museums. They also offer $5 day passes to the Wellbridge Fitness Center, located at the Charles Hotel.

The Irving House has several different rooming options that vary in price: shared bath with a single bed for $85/night plus taxes; shared bath with two single beds for $95/night plus taxes; private bath with a full-size bed for $115/night plus taxes; private bath with a queen bed for $125/night plus taxes.  Beds can also be added to the larger rooms for an additional charge per person.  To book a room at the Irving House at Harvard, please contact their reservations desk at: (617) 547-4600.

Ground Transportation from Logan Airport to Cambridge

Taxis are readily available from Logan Airport outside of the baggage claim area. It takes approximately 20-30 minutes to travel from the airport to Cambridge and costs between $40-$45 one way.

It is also possible to travel by bus and subway between Logan Airport and Cambridge. From any terminal at Logan, catch the Silver Line Bus ($2.00/ticket) to South Station. Exit the bus at South Station and go downstairs to the Red Line subway (no additional ticket necessary). Take the Red Line towards Alewife. Exit the subway at Harvard Square station. It takes approximately 30-40 minutes to travel by bus and subway from Logan to Harvard Square. Harvard Square is approximately a 10 minute walk from Harvard Law School.

Parking passes and directions may be obtained. Please submit any requests by January 28th to Liberty Mulkani at lmulkani@aldf.org.

Other teams briefs will be posted on the website and 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 & Copy Center
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 lmulkani@aldf.org.