ABOUT THE COMPETITION

The John Black Moot Court Competition is open only to 1L students at the University of Houston Law Center. The competition is “closed-research,” meaning that a pool of eligible cases and materials will be provided by the Advocates, and competitors are not allowed to cite other materials in their arguments. Teams will prepare and present oral arguments for both sides of the case.

A Competition Team consists of two UHLC 1L students, both serving as attorneys, and both attorneys must present in each round.  Competition rounds are judged by members of the Houston legal community who often offer feedback to the teams after the round is over.  Teams are scored on the substantive content of their arguments, knowledge of the record, extemporaneous ability, and courtroom demeanor.

IMPORTANT DATES

• Learning Lunch: February 23, 2023 @ 12pm
• Registration Opens: February 23, 2023 @ 6pm
• Professor Simpson’s Oral Argument Workshop: February 25, 2023 @ 9:30am
• Registration Closes and Problem Released: March 3, 2023
• Competition: March 10-11, 2023

If you no longer wish to participate in the competition, you must contact Jared Peloquin no later than March 2, 2023 @ 11:59PM. (subject to change)

Learn More: 
Learning Lunch recording Here. 
Learning Lunch slides Here.

Partner Search: If you are looking for a partner, add your name to this sheet and then use your student email account to contact your partner. If your name is common or difficult to locate, in the “Additional Information” field add details that are helpful to finding your account. For example, “ends in a 3.”

How to Register:

Registration is now closed.

Step 1
Pay for your team on PayPal and make sure to save your confirmation number. There are 3 options: (1) $20 if both team members are also Advocates members, (2) $100 if both team members are non-Advocates members, or (3) $60 in one person is member and one is not.
**Please note in the payment form the names of each teammate and “John Black Moot Court Competition”**

Step 2
Fill out this Google Form at 6pm.

APPELLATE ORAL ARGUMENT DISCUSSION

To get all participants prepared for the competition, Professor Simpson will host a discussion on February 23 @ 9:30am aimed at familiarizing participants with oral arguments in appellate courts. It is recommended you attend this session so that you are best prepared for the competition. For those of you that plan to attend the session, download the below documents prior to the discussion as they will be used during the discussion.

COURSE CREDIT & PRIZES

UHLC students can earn 1 hour of non-substantive competition credit by (1) making a good-faith effort in the Competition and (2) completing and timely submitting the writing assignment for the Competition that is described in the Competition Rules.  Click here to complete a Competition Credit Petition.

Cash prizes will also be awarded to the top finishing teams.

MORE INFORMATION
Email Jared Peloquin, Director of the John Black Moot Court Competition