Courses@Boalt
NOTE: Course offerings change. Classes offered this semester may not be offered in future semesters.295.3J sec. 1 - McBaine Moot Court Competition (Spring 2011)
Instructor: William H. D. Fernholz (view instructor's teaching evaluations | profile)
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Units: 1
Course Start: January 10, 2011
Course End: February 03, 0011
The James Patterson McBaine Honors Competition is Boalt Hall's venerable moot court competition and is open to all second- and third-year students. Justice Sonya Sotomayor of the United States Supreme Court will preside over the final round of the competition on February 2, 2011.
Cases chosen for the competition involve cutting-edge issues of great public importance. The Competition does not have a regular classroom component. Students will prepare a mock Supreme Court brief during Fall 2010 and will argue during Spring 2011. Students will earn a single pass/no pass credit per semester, and must register for both semesters.
The Board of Advocates will arrange a few non-mandatory lunchtime meetings during the Fall to discuss the case, relevant law, and address any questions students may have about the competition. In addition, William Fernholz, the Director of Appellate Programs, along with the two student co-directors, will be available for individual meetings throughout the competition.
Judges, Boalt faculty, and appellate practitioners will evaluate the briefs and initial rounds of oral arguments. The preliminary rounds will take place on weekday evenings very early in the Spring of 2011. Students will advance to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final based on their performance on the brief and in the preliminary rounds of oral argument, with the brief counting for at least half of the available points in the earlier rounds. Prizes are awarded for the best briefs and best oral argument.
Competitors receive 2 units for satisfactory participation in the competition. For information about the competition as it has been administered in previous years, please see the competition's website at:
http://www.law.berkeley.edu/8189.htm
This course satisfies the Constitutional Law Requirement.
This course satisfies the Skills Requirement.
Exam Notes: T
This is a credit only course
Course Category: Advocacy Skills Courses
This course is cross-listed in the following categories:
Litigation and Procedure
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Readers:
A reader will be used in this class.
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Instructor has indicated that no books will be assigned.
