Baylor To Host Texas Undergrad Moot Court Contest Feb. 21-22

by Alan Hunt

Baylor Law School will host the eighth annual Texas Undergraduate Moot Court Competition Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21-22. Undergraduate students from throughout the state will compete in the two-day competition.
Sponsored by the Texas Undergraduate Moot Court Association, the competition gives students who aspire to be attorneys a chance to try their legal skills at appellate advocacy in the law school's practice courtrooms.
Thirty teams are expected to participate from Texas A&M University, Hardin-Simmons University, University of Texas at Austin, Arlington and Tyler, Stephen F. Austin State University, Prairie View A&M University, Texas Wesleyan University, University of North Texas, Sul Ross University, Midwestern University, Lamar University and Howard Payne University.
The contest program will include two rounds on Friday with quarterfinals, semifinals and the final round on Saturday. Barristers of the Harvey M. Richey Moot Court Society - Baylor law students who have excelled in the intra-school and interscholastic moot court competitions - will serve as judges in the preliminary rounds. More than 80 Barristers will participate as well as 40 third-quarter students who will volunteer as bailiffs. The final round of the contest will be judged by Law Dean Brad Toben and members of the law school faculty, including Professors Matthew Cordon, William Trail, Michael Morrison and Kent Streseman.
"This competition allows undergraduate students the opportunity to see if they enjoy thinking on their feet while they are being grilled by knowledgeable judges," said Professor Ron Beal, faculty advisor to the Moot Court Officers. "They get to see first-hand how the legal system works and just how difficult it is to stand in the shoes of the lawyer.
"They learn that the law is not perfect and it is up to the lawyers to guide the courts on how the law should be applied," he added. "If they enjoy this experience, they have been given a strong signal that law school is the next step for them."
Beal said Baylor Law School is honored to host the competition.
"We believe that Baylor Law School has a duty to work in partnership with the undergraduate schools to provide a meaningful learning experience for the students. Even if they choose not to go to law school, they will walk away with an excellent understanding of how the legal system functions."
Rounds will be held at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday with a reception to follow for participants from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Law School student lounge. Quarterfinals will be on Saturday at 9 a.m., with semifinals to follow at 10:30 a.m. and the finals at 1 pm. Beal said all rounds are open to the public and students are encouraged to attend.
For more information, contact Beal at (254) 710-6590.