The Uvaldo Herrera Moot Court Competition, sponsored by the Hispanic National Bar Association, is an appellate moot court competition, open to all students, regardless of ethnicity. This is an opportunity for students to hone their brief writing and oral advocacy skills, while exploring a complex legal issue, as well as to form relationships with the judges and practitioners at the competition.
The Herrera moot court problem typically tracks a constitutional law issue currently pending in the U.S. Supreme Court. The competition problem will be released in November 2025 and the competition will take place March 2026, in Las Vegas. Travel costs are covered by MHSL. Students receive 2 credits for participating in the moot court.
The competition offers substantial financial awards to the best performers and the Mitchell Hamline School of Law Team won 1st place in 2020!
Students who are invited to join the team will be required to write the brief for the competition during December-January. In mid-January, oral argument preparations sessions begin. Team members will be assigned to two- or three-person teams and can expect to participate in a minimum of 15 prep sessions between January and March 2026.
Open to all second, third, and fourth-year students at MHSL. To apply for this moot court opportunity, please submit the following to Esteban A. Rivera ([email protected]) by October 24, 2025:
- A cover letter indicating why you are interested in participating;
- Your resume
- A writing sample (minimum 5 pages)
Students will be contacted about oral argument tryouts, dates to be determined, after submitting the requested materials. Team selection will be announced soon after.
For more information about the HNBA and the moot court competition, go to: www.hnba.com.
Coach
Please contact Esteban Rivera for more information.
2025-26 Competition Information:
(as of 8/25/2025)
Dates TBA
March 11 – 13, 2026
Format
In Person
Materials
Registration Opens
Usually in November
Registration Closes
Usually in December
Briefs Due
TBD