Rule Clarification

RULE CLARIFICATION REQUEST #1:
My school is sending two teams to the upcoming moot court competition.  Does the prohibition on outside assistance apply to discussions of the issues between team members from the same school?

RULE CLARIFICATION RESPONSE #1:
Yes, the rules prohibit teams from the same school working together BEFORE the brief is submitted.  That is clear in Rule V.(b).  The only exception before briefs are submitted is that “preliminary general discussion of the issues” is permitted “before beginning to write the brief.”  The prohibition is relaxed after the briefs have been submitted.  At that point teams may hold oral practice sessions together and teams may discuss the issues and obtain critiques from anyone “provided that the finalized substance of the oral argument is the work product of the team members.”