The LSU Law Moot Court program is ranked No. 25 in the nation in the 2017-18 rankings of moot court programs by the Blakely Advocacy Institute at the University of Houston Law Center.
The rankings are based on competition results throughout the academic year. This year, LSU Law teams won three national championships — the most titles won in an academic year at LSU since 2006.
“This ranking is the result of a banner year for our appellate advocacy (“moot court”) teams, but it doesn’t look at the success of our trial, alternative dispute resolution, and transactional teams,” said LSU Law professor Jeff Brooks, who also serves as the Preis PLC Director of Advocacy and Professional Practice and Director of Field placement and Moot Court/Trial Advocacy Programs. “Across all forms of competition we have enjoyed a truly stunning level of success this year.”
Competition successes this year include:
- Three LSU Law Center teams – the Space Law Moot Court Team, Admiralty Law Moot Court Team, and the Civil Rights Trial Team – each brought home national championship titles.
- The Space Law Team also brought home the award for “Best New Team”, and they have advanced into the World Championships, which will be held in Germany this November.
- The championship Admiralty Team (the “Purple” team) also brought home the Maritime Law Association of the United States Award for the Best Brief. Our “Gold” Admiralty team took a Quarterfinalist title and won 13th Place Best Individual Oralist.
- The Environmental Law Moot Court Team took second place out of over 60 competing teams!
- The Stutes-Kalinka Tax Moot Court Team won first Runner-Up Best Brief and placed as Quarterfinalists.
- The Gabrielli Family Law Moot Court Team placed as Octofinalists (Sweet 16).
- The Tom Fore Phillips National Moot Court Team was the No. 1 seed at their competition and ultimately placed as regional semifinalists.
- The Moran-Thrash ABA Appellate Advocacy Team won First Place Best Brief and received a 10th Place Best Oralist Award at its regional rounds.
In addition, LSU Law fielded teams to 12 appellate advocacy (“moot court”) competitions, seven mock trial competitions, and five transactional and alternative dispute resolution competitions.
“The transactional and ADR teams are all new to us, and they enjoyed very high levels of student and alumni interest,” Brooks said. “We are particularly excited to expand this area of our skills training and competition next year.”
The Law Center’s previous ranking was 35 in 2015-16. LSU Law placed out of the top 50 in 2016-17.
“I am truly grateful for the hard work our students, our coaches, and our new and incredible Advocacy Fellow, Annie Scardulla, put in – their hard work made this one of LSU Law’s best years ever,” Brooks said.
