36th annual competition goes completely online
Mitchell Hamline School of Law, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota Law School, will host the William E. McGee National Civil Rights Moot Court Competition.
We are committed to providing an outstanding experience for our student competitors. Student competitors and volunteer judges will meet in a Zoom courtroom for the arguments. A volunteer “bailiff” will be in the Zoom room ready to help with any tech-related questions. Each student team will participate in two preliminary rounds of oral argument. In each round, students will argue for approximately an hour, and will then be invited to break-out rooms while judges deliberate. Following the deliberations, judges will offer constructive feedback on the students’ performance. The top four teams will advance to the semifinal rounds on Saturday, and the winning teams from the semifinal rounds will compete in the championship round Saturday afternoon.
Competition changes for 2020–21
- Competition will be in late February or early March 2021
- We will hold two preliminary rounds (rather than three)
- Competition Friday: Preliminary rounds
- Competition Saturday: Semifinal and final (championship) rounds
- The competition will be limited to 18 teams.
Schools may register up to two teams and may register teams before they know which students will compete. - Specific dates will be announced here by September of 2020
Registration fees for the 2020–21 competition are $425 per team.
Invitation
Mitchell Hamline School of Law is pleased to invite your school to participate in the 36th Annual William E. McGee National Civil Rights Moot Court Competition.
We are finalizing our research regarding the case that will be selected to be this year’s topic. The problem and the rules governing the competition will be distributed to all registered participants by early November 2020. We anticipate some changes to the rules due to the online format of the competition.
The due date for briefs will be mid-January 2021. Specific dates TBA by September of 2020.
Application requirements and procedures
Participation is limited to the first 18 teams that register. A completed application and a check for the registration fee, made payable to Mitchell Hamline School of Law, must be postmarked by Oct. 31, 2020.
While a team may register for openings that might occur after the deadline, applications will be accepted in the order submitted, determined by the postmark or email date.
Registration fee and payment
The registration fee is $425 per team. If you anticipate a delay in obtaining the fee, submit the application by October 31 and contact Debbie Nelson prior to the deadline to arrange separate submission of the fee. Registration fee must be received by the problem release date. If we receive an application without a check and have not heard from you, we will not be able to accept your application.
Please complete and send your application to:
Attn: Debbie Nelson
McGee Civil Rights Moot Court Competition
Mitchell Hamline School of Law
875 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
Or email your completed form to:
debra.nelson@mitchellhamline.edu
Questions?
Contact Debbie Nelson at 651-290-6319 or debra.nelson@mitchellhamline.edu.
We look forward to your participation.
Technology at Mitchell Hamline
Mitchell Hamline School of Law has extensive experience with online learning, having launched the first half-online/half in-person blended learning J.D. program at an ABA-approved law school in 2015. Our experience and investment in online-learning infrastructure make us confident this year’s competition will honor the long tradition of the McGee Civil Rights Moot Court Competition.
Mitchell Hamline staff, faculty train law professors worldwide on online learning
As law schools have moved classes online to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, many are turning to Mitchell Hamline for help.
March 13, 2020