Competition Teams
Alternative Dispute Resolution Team
The Alternative Dispute Resolution Team (ADRT) is an ABA Student Division Program dedicated to helping law students hone practical skills through competitions that focus on client counseling and methods of dispute resolution other than litigation. ADRT members compete against each other to advance to the regional level in national competitions. In recent years, ADRT members have competed in the ABA Law Student Division Negotiation Competition, the ABA LASD Client Counseling Competition and the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Advocacy in Mediation Competition.
Moot Court Program
The Moot Court Program is one of the Law School's best opportunities for students to develop and refine both oral advocacy and brief writing skills. Team members participate in moot court tournaments, which require each team to research and write an appellate brief, then defend it before a panel of judges in an oral argument. Membership on Moot Court is an honor, and tryouts for the team are competitive.
Each year the Moot Court Team sends its members to ten or more inter-collegiate moot court tournaments around the nation. The Moot Court Team has a track record of success and is nationally recognized as a top Moot Court program in annual rankings relative to other law schools. In addition to competing, the team hosts the William B. Spong, Jr. Invitational Moot Court Tournament each year. In existence for more than 50 years, the Spong Tournament focuses on current issues in constitutional law. Rounds are judged by panels of federal and state court judges and experienced lawyers in numerous practice areas.
National Trial Team
William & Mary's National Trial Team provides an incredible opportunity to gain significant trial advocacy experience while still in law school. Membership on the National Trial Team is an honor and accomplishment, with more than 50 first-year students vying for one of approximately twelve open spots each year during the Team's Annual Selection Tournament. Selected members take part in a rigorous and comprehensive development program taught by the Team's advisor, Jeffrey Breit, an accomplished trial lawyer and past president of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. Members gain extensive training in all levels of trial advocacy, from evidentiary objections and fundamental trial skills to sophisticated trial strategy and persuasion. Members of the National Trial Team showcase and hone these skills by traveling and competing in competitions all across the U.S.
International Competition Team
The International Competition Team (ICT) participates in national and global competitions involving various subfields of international law. Team members participate in scenario-based international humanitarian law (IHL) competitions and moot courts, including the Clara Barton and Jean Pictet IHL simulation competitions, the International Criminal Court (ICC) Moot Court Competition, and the Jessup Moot Court Competition.
ICT serves as a forum for interested William & Mary Law School students to deepen their understanding of international law and improve their oral and written advocacy skills. Members will have an opportunity to participate in competitions as researchers, brief writers, and oralists. The competitions will also provide students with a chance to network with other law school students and lawyers from around the world who are interested in or practice international law.
Transactional Law Team
The Transactional Law Team helps students explore the corporate practice and improve their writing and soft skills through preparation for and participation in transactional law competitions across the country. Competitions simulate real-world corporate transactions—such as mergers, asset purchases, and license purchase agreements—and consist of two phases, a contract drafting component and a negotiation component.
The team engages experienced professionals to provide training to new members, which focuses on the legal aspects of a “deal” and the persuasive ability needed to reach such an agreement. After completing this training, new members are ready to compete in tournaments. The tournaments allow team members to apply their knowledge and hone their practical abilities while receiving real-time feedback from judges, practicing attorneys, and professors. Competitions also provide a valuable opportunity for team members to network with students and legal practitioners across the country. Transactional Law Team members can compete one or more times per year.