Lewis & Clark Law School’s Environmental Moot Court Team secured its ninth national championship and the 2025 Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition (NELMCC). The three-student team - Lane Kadish ’25, Sophie Keller ’26, and Michael F. Johnson ’25 - triumphed over 47 other law schools, showcasing their unmatched preparation, legal acumen, and ability to handle tough questioning from the competition’s judges. In addition to winning the championship, the team also won a Best Brief award, and Kadish ’25 was named as one of two runner-ups for Best Oralist in the entire competition.
The road to the championship is certainly not an easy one. The team’s preparation was intense, consisting of over 30 practice rounds which they began right after the holidays in January this year. During these practice rounds, they were rigorously questioned by faculty, alumni, and local attorneys acting as judges, continuously honing and refining their arguments.
“We didn’t hear a single question at the competition that we hadn’t already thought about or been asked before,” Kadish ’25 said. “Our practice rounds were often harder than the actual competition rounds.”
The team’s coach Professor Craig Johnston, who has led Lewis & Clark’s environmental moot court teams for decades, attributes their success to a winning formula: talented students, invested faculty, and an unparalleled commitment to preparation. “Our goal is always to be the most prepared team in the room,” Professor Johnston explained. “We want our students to have heard every possible question before they ever set foot in a competition round. That level of preparation is what makes us so difficult to beat.”
The intense preparation became well worth it when the team competed at Pace University in White Plains, New York, for the Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition (NELMCC). Over the few days at the competition, they advanced through multiple rounds, facing some of the best law schools in the country.
For all three team members, the experience was transformative. The environmental moot court competition mirrors real-world legal advocacy, requiring students to argue from all three sides of a complex environmental dispute: the government (EPA), industry, and environmental groups.
“You don’t just argue your side - you have to prepare for all sides,” Michael F. Johnson ’25 said. “It forces you to think critically, anticipate opposing arguments, and approach legal problems with a more balanced perspective. And that’s definitely the most beneficial thing I gained out of the process.”
Sophie Keller ’26, who had no prior experience in moot court, emphasized how both the environmental moot court course and the competition pushed her out of her comfort zone but ultimately left her with a sense of confidence. “I didn’t expect it to be as intense as it was,” she admitted. “But the experience has been one of the most challenging and rewarding things I’ve done in law school. I went into the final round feeling pretty confident that we knew our stuff. The teamwork, the preparation, and the support from alumni and faculty made all the difference.”
Professor Johnston noted that arguing in front of federal judges in the final round was a defining moment for the team. “They weren’t phased at all,” he said. “It’s an incredible thing to see students handle aggressive questioning from real judges and stay poised under pressure.”
Lewis & Clark’s success at the National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition is unmatched. “We’ve won nine times in the competition’s 36-year history,” Professor Johnston pointed out. “Only one other school has won more than twice. That tells you something about our program, our students, and our commitment to excellence.”
Kadish ’25, who competed in the national competition last year, was determined to win this time around. “Last year, things didn’t go our way,” he said. “This year, I came back knowing we could win - and we did.”
The experience is about more than just winning. Students who compete in environmental moot court consistently say it’s the most valuable and educationally enriching experience of their law school careers. “It teaches you how to think on your feet, how to argue persuasively, and how to handle pressure,” Keller ’26 said. Johnson ’25 also stated, “I can definitely see the experience I’ve gained from environmental moot court benefiting me once I start practicing.”
Professor Johnston echoed this sentiment, noting that alumni frequently credit their moot court experience as being instrumental in their success as attorneys. “Students write to me years later telling me how this experience made them better lawyers,” he said.
Lewis & Clark’s success in environmental moot court is a testament to the strength of its environmental law program - consistently one of the top programs in the nation. Environmental moot court is an unparalleled opportunity for students interested in environmental law, advocacy, and litigation.
