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University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law

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More in Student Resources:
  • Preparing for the Bar Exam
  • Preparing for Graduation
  • Moot Court and Client Counseling Teams
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Moot Court and Client Counseling Teams

CLIENT COUNSELING TEAM

The purpose of the Client Counseling Competition is to promote greater knowledge and interest among law students in the preventive law and counseling functions of law practice and to encourage students to develop interviewing, planning, and analytical skills in the lawyer-client relationship in the law office.

Advisor
  • Calvin G.C. Pang

ENVIRONMENTAL MOOT COURT TEAM

The William S. Richardson School of Law Environmental Law Moot Court Team is a three-student team that competes in the Pace University School of Law’s National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition. The team is required to write a brief and compete in several rounds of oral arguments. The competition takes place in White Plains, New York in mid-February of each year. For 15 years, the Environmental Law Moot Court Team has consistently placed among the top competitors and is nationally recognized. Each year, Pace University selects a topic that involves cutting-edge issues in federal environmental law and three parties to the dispute—a citizens group, a state or federal agency, and a private corporation. The problem typically involves a major federal environmental statute and related issues of statutory interpretation, federal court process, administrative law, and constitutional law. Teams may choose any of the three sides to represent on the brief, but during the competition all teams must argue all sides.

Advisor
  • David M. Forman

HISPANIC MOOT COURT TEAM

The Uvaldo Herrera Moot Court Competion is a national competition sponsored by the Hispanic National Bar Association. The brief writing and oral presentation of the competition are focused on a case concerning current civil rights on a national scale. Since a team has been put together, the William S. Richardson School of Law Hispanic Law Students Association has funded the Hispanic Moot Court Team. New teammates are selected via tryouts.

HNBA Uvaldo Herrera Moot Court Competition [hnba.com]

Advisor
  • Kenneth L. Lawson

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MOOT COURT TEAM

“The Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition is an annual event honoring Saul Lefkowitz, whose entire distinguished career was dedicated to the development of trademark and unfair competition law.  The competition introduces law students to important issues arising in U.S. trademark and unfair competition law. Students develop their brief writing and oral advocacy skills in a mock courtroom experience.”

Source: Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition [www.inta.org]

Advisor
  • John L. Barkai

INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MOOT COURT TEAM

The Stetson Moot Court Competition covers issues in international environmental law. Beyond providing a strong foundation in legal doctrine, Stetson’s academic curriculum allows students to distinguish themselves through clinical programs, skills courses, and concentration and dual-degree programs for practice in specialized areas of law. Recent topics have included oceanic shipments of nuclear waste and the scientific harvesting of whales and other endangered species.  Tryouts consist of an oral argument based on the prior year’s briefs, and will be held late in the Spring semester.

Advisor
  • Richard Wallsgrove

NATIONAL BLACK LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (NBLSA)

“The National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA), founded in 1968, is a national organization formed to articulate and promote the needs and goals of black law students and effectuate change in the legal community.”

Source:  National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) [nblsa.org]
National Black Law Student Association Advocacy Competitions [nblsa.org]

Advisor
  • Kenneth L. Lawson

NATIONAL TRIAL PRACTICE TEAM

National Trial Practice Team is a student organization that competes in an annual national tournament  that alternates between a mock civil trial and a mock criminal trial.  Unlike other competition teams, NTPT focuses on trial level advocacy and does not include a written brief.  The Team’s practices emphasize the rules of evidence, the rules of procedure, trial strategy, and courtroom presence.  Students interested in becoming litigators are encouraged to try out for the team.  Try-outs are generally held in October.

Advisor
  • Kenneth L. Lawson

NATIVE AMERICAN MOOT COURT TEAM

Established in 1996, the William S. Richardson School of Law’s Native American Moot Court Team (NAMC) is comprised of three to four two-person teams. Each two-person team briefs and argues an issue in federal Indian law and/or tribal law and governance at the annual national competition.  In the 23 years that the Richardson team has participated in the competition, the team has earned 40 awards: 15 First Place Awards, 12 Second Place Awards, 12 Third Place Awards, and 1 Fourth Place Award.

Try-outs for the competition are held in the Fall and the national competition is held in the Spring. Try-out candidates present oral arguments before an alumni panel based on the briefs written by the prior teams.

Advisors
  • Derek Kauanoe
  • Melody Kapilialoha MacKenzie
Contact Information
  • Email: namcuh@gmail.com

PHILIP C. JESSUP MOOT COURT TEAM

The competition is a simulation of a fictional dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the United Nations. A team from each participating school is required to prepare oral and written pleadings arguing both the applicant and respondent positions of the case. The Jessup Moot Court Competition covers issues in international law. Recent topics have included civil wars, war crimes, global internet regulations, and oceanic environmental issues. The Jessup team consists of four oralists and one alternate position. Two oralists represent one country, while the other two oralists represent the other country. Each pair prepares a brief and oral argument. The alternate helps with the briefs and oral arguments, but is not expected to argue at the competition. The alternate will be an oralist the following year.

Advisor
  • Garrett I. Halydier

SPACE LAW MOOT COURT TEAM

Each year since 1992, the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) has hosted the Manfred Lachs Moot Court Competition. This competition seeks to promote interest in and knowledge of the dynamic field of space law. The competition simulates a space-based dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the United Nations.

Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition [iislweb.org]

Advisor
  • Victoria Szymczak

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