We Like to Compete and We Like to Win

This year marks the 230th anniversary of the first moot court held at a law school in the United States - George Wythe introduced moot courts to American legal education here at W&M in 1780.  Law students hone and develop oral advocacy skills by participation.  Keen competition uniquely challenges aspiring lawyers to think on their feet, shift strategy and perform in the courtroom. 

The William & Mary National Trial Team (Hunter Allen 3L, Madelyn Buckley 1L and Lindsay Naiman 2L (left to right)) won first place at George Mason's John C. Costello National Criminal Trial Advocacy Tournament in January.  This competition is unique among trial team tournaments because a number of facts are not provided to the teams in advance.  Teams are expected to process and strategize in the moment of trial and do much more than perform a rehearsed script.  A William & Mary team comprised of Chris Healy, Josh DeFord and Alyssa Miller won the moot court tournament at Regent Law School while another W&M team comprised of Stephen Barry, Brandon Boxler and Sean Marotta finished second (and received recognition for filing the best brief at the competition).  Chris won best oralist at the Regent competition, while Sean won third best oralist.  Todd Torres and Jes Kuehn competed at George Washington Law School's National Security LAW Tournament held mid-February and received recognition for filing the second best brief at that competition.

William & Mary concluded its annual Bushrod Moot Court Competition  - the Law School's internal moot court competition last week.  Andrew Ferguson was the overall winner and Andrew Grindrod was the runner-up.  They are pictured with Beth Brinkmann, recipient of the IBRL Student Division 2009-10 Edmund Randolph Silver Tongue Award recognizing outstanding appellate advocacy. 

William & Mary has had remarkably successful National Trial and Moot Court Teams in recent years.  Our students - individually and as teams - have continued this long tradition of participation and have done so with great success. Visit  this page  for more information about the William & Mary Teams.

George Wythe would be proud - so am I!