The following are answers to frequently asked questions about
membership in the Moot Court Honor Society at St. John's Law
School.
Who is eligible to compete for membership in
the Moot Court Honor Society?
The Moot Court Honor Society invites rising
second-year day students, rising part-time third-year
students, and students who transferred to St. John’s at the
beginning of the academic year to compete for membership. Students
must be in good academic standing to qualify for
membership. Moot Court members cannot also be members
of the St. John’s Law Review. But they are eligible for
membership on other scholarly journals.
How are members selected?
We use four criteria to select Moot Court Honor
Society members:
- Performance on the oral argument portion of the Reverend Joseph
T. Tinnelly Moot Court Competition
- Performance on the brief writing portion of the Tinnelly
Competition
- Overall GPA for the first year
- Legal Research and Writing Grade (Spring Semester)
Students receive and submit the writing portion of the
competition electronically through the Law School's TWEN
portal. Prospective members then engage in oral arguments on
their written brief in the Reverend Joseph T. Tinnelly Moot Court
Competition held over a summer weekend. We offer a
make-up competition in early August for students unable to take
part in oral arguments due to work or other extenuating
circumstances.
Why should I consider membership in the Moot Court Honor
Society?
Moot Court Honor Society members develop practical
legal writing and oral advocacy skills, which are essential to
marketing your legal experience to prospective
employers. Employers from private law firms, public interest
firms, and government organizations and agencies seek candidates
who have the practical experience that Moot Court affords.
What will I do as a member?
During the fall semester, all new members
enhance their writing and oral advocacy skills through Appellate
Advocacy—Moot Court, a required 2-credit course taught by the Hon.
Gerald Lebovits. New members also have the opportunity to compete
in two internal competitions — one in the fall and one in the
spring — and external competitions, which involve brief writing and
competing against other law schools in oral advocacy.
Do I get academic credit for participating in the Moot
Court Honor Society?
During their first semester of membership, new
members receive 2 credits for completing the Appellate
Advocacy — Moot Court course. In addition, toward the end of
their first year, eligible members of Moot Court may run for
Executive Board positions, which offer academic credit.
Does my participation satisfy any academic
requirements?
Successful completion of the Appellate
Advocacy—Moot Court course satisfies the Practical Legal
Writing Requirement.
What if I have additional questions?
Please contact
us. We are happy to answer your questions.