Applications are now being accepted for the Federal Bar Association’s 2024 Thurgood Marshall Memorial Moot Court Competition!
The Younger Lawyers Division of the Federal Bar Association has announced it will hold the Thurgood Marshall Memorial Moot Court Competition in Spring 2024 in person in Washington, D.C.! The competition is one of the premier moot court competitions in the country.
Each year, the FBA distributes case materials to the teams based on a current and developing federal issue. The materials include a mock district court order and circuit court opinion. The teams then use those materials to prepare and submit written appellate briefs and argue against other teams from around the nation. Each team member argues and fields questions from a panel of judges for 10-15 minutes. The panel of judges often include state or federal judges, practitioners, or scholars, giving competitors “real world” experience in federal appellate advocacy. As is tradition, the competition will conclude with an awards presentation, held virtually, where family, FBA members, and leaders are invited to attend.
Mitchell Hamline’s teams have historically ranked very highly in this competition (winning first place in 2019-2020).
Mitchell Hamline will have one two-person team competing this year. The deadline for submitting applications for one of the two positions is 5:00 P.M. Friday, December 1, 2023.
Interested applicants should submit a persuasive writing sample (preferably an appellate writing sample) to Andrew Wilson (awilson@wilsoncd.com) and Robert Yount (robert.yount@co.anoka.mn.us). Cover letter or letter of interest optional. Interested applicants are encouraged to reach out to either Andrew or Rob with any additional questions or concerns. Depending on the volume of applicants, students may be asked to conduct a brief (3-5 minute) oral argument on their writing sample.
Students receive 2 academic credits for participation in the competition. Generally, a student can register for one credit in any semester in which they anticipate they will do at least 45 hours of competition-related work. Some students split the credits, while others register for both credits in the semester in which the student does the bulk of the work. Students with questions or in need of assistance with registration-related issues should reach out to Debbie Nelson, (debra.nelson@mitchellhamline.edu).