Cory Scott:
1 What year did you participate and who was your teammate?
I participated in Moot Court Fall 2006 and my partner was Julie Olivas.
2 If you have graduated and moved on, did moot court help you for your future in any way?
I graduated Fall 2006 and am currently planning to
attend law school starting August of 2007. I have no
doubts that my Moot Court experience will be a huge asset
to my law school experience.
3 What is your fondest memory (that can be repeated) about moot court?
I think my fondest memory, or at least the one I will
remember most, is standing in front of the judges during
my first round match at regionals. I got bombarded with
questions and was incredibly nervous, but when I finished
and sat down, I remember thinking, well I'm still in one
piece and I think I can handle this. There is a great
sense of accomplishment after standing in front of the
judges for the first time.
4 What was the best thing about moot court?
The best thing about moot court was the intensity of
the learning and the feel of competition. There are very
few, if any classes that will push you to master the
material, the way moot court does.
5 What was the worst thing about moot court?
The worst thing about moot court was the results of the
competition, and perhaps a little feeling of let down when
my partner and I didn't finish with the results we were
hoping for.
6 What do you miss about moot court?
I miss a lot of things about moot court, everyone
involved in the class was great and I think that by the
end there was a real team spirit that had evolved.
Obviously I would like to do the competition over again,
as nerve racking as it is, it really is a lot of fun.
7 What tournaments did you compete in and what were they like?
The only tournament that I competed in was the
regionals held at Cal State Long Beach. The competition
was very stiff and my partner and I faced three of the
best teams, but all in all the competition is a lot of
fun, you learn more about how you want to present your
case during the competition, I think, than you do during
all of the practice rounds. Overall, the competitions are
the best part of the class.
8 What advice would you give future mooters?
My advice for future mooters, would be to try and
master the cases as early as possible, and if possible
read them the day or week that Dr. Ringel gives them to
you. Also, one big thing I learned was that, if you want
to win, you have to be passionate about your position, and
own the material. If the judges get any hint that you
don't believe what your saying, your score will suffer.
Lastly, be confident, know when to concede a point without
backing down from your position.
9 Who was the BEST mooter you ever saw? Do you recall
his or her school? What was so good about him or her?
The best mooter I had the pleasure of watching was from Weber
State, I can't remember her name, but she
was the anchor for their team, which won 1st place at the
regional tournament. While there may have been some
weaknesses in her facts, her argument was rock solid and
she made everyone, especially the judges, think that her
position was the only correct legal position.
10 Would you repeat your moot court experience if you could?
If I had the opportunity to do Moot Court over again I
would jump at the chance, I think that it teaches you to
be calm and composed when your under pressure, and how to
think on your feet, all thing that are invaluable to an
attorney or any other field for that matter.
Michaelyn Thomas
1 What year did you participate and who was your teammate?
I participated in the Fall of 2006. My teammate was Will Glaser from Patrick Henry.
2 If you have graduated and moved on, did moot court help you for your future in any way?
I have not graduated yet, but moot court really helped me. It helped me decide what my attitudes would be toward law school. If you want to go to law school, take this class. Seriously.
3 What is your fondest memory (that can be repeated) about moot court?
Being at Nationals was the best. It was five of us girls competing and we had a huge support system. But just being able to compete with the best mooters in the country was fun and an honor. The five of us really helped each other out in preparation and it was really nice that our teacher’s assistants were very helpful. Plus Dr. Ringel was there for us as well. Just preparing us, but also he was there to calm us down and to boost our self esteem. That really helped us all!
4 What was the best thing about moot court?
Not to mention the knowledge you gain from the class, but we developed a bond between each other. Because of that bond, we were able to criticize each other and help each other with out offending each other.
5 What was the worst thing about moot court?
Briefing 22 cases!!! But it really did help in the end.
6 What do you miss about moot court?
It was a special class setting that was very intimate and I like that type of learning situation. I miss that classroom setup.
7 What tournaments did you compete in and what were they like?
I competed in regionals and nationals. I thought that the questions were harder at regionals but my partner and I did very well in that competition. However in nationals, the questions were more softball and my partner and I did not pass preliminaries. But it was so fun meeting people from different schools. Also at these competitions, it is very formal. It is as formal as a court room. It’s cool because you feel so professional and important J.
8 What advice would you give future mooters?
Know your arguments!!! The judges want to trip you up, but if you know your argument, you are golden. Make a roadmap in your argument. Judges really appreciate this. Do not be nervous. I was nervous and it will work against you. Try to remember that this is a MOCK trial. You really are not representing the government of the United States or “terrorists” for that matter. Also the judges want the students to have fun and it is supposed to be a pleasant experience.
9 Who was the BEST mooter you ever saw? Do you recall his or her school? What was so
good about him or her?
This is a hard question, because I think a good mooter knows the facts better than the deliverance. But in reality, part of being a good mooter is the delivery of your argument. A good mooter can speak with confidence and a good mooter speaks clear. A good mooter can make anything believable by presentation. The people I thought mastered this was the Weber State students and the Patrick Henry Students. But with that being said, a knowledge of the facts plus a good delivery equals a great performance.
10 Would you repeat your moot court experience if you could?
Most definitely. This is a class that you enjoy going to. Dr. Ringel is a great coach and his sense of humor makes it a great place for everyone. He pushes us students with crazy questions, but it is to make us better and it’s a good push! The TA’s my year, Katie Kruger and Shelagh Hoffman, also worked to make it a good time. Everyone is very accommodating, especially in the worst of situations.
Erik Aho
1 What year did you participate and who was your teammate?
2006 with Jillian Martins
2 If you have graduated and moved on, did moot court help you for your future in any way?
Moot court definitely helped on law school applications and legal resumes.
3 What is your fondest memory (that can be repeated) about moot court?
Getting feedback from judges who liked us.
4 What was the best thing about moot court?
Learning how to read and brief cases.
5 What was the worst thing about moot court?
Pre-tournament stress
6 What do you miss about moot court?
Small group interaction in class room, smaller number of students in class, the people
7 What tournaments did you compete in and what were they like?
Western regional. Very intense.
8 What advice would you give future mooters?
Focus more on presentation and not content. Know cases cited within cases.
9 Who was the BEST mooter you ever saw? Do you recall his or her school? What was so good about him or her?
Will Glasser from Patrick Henry College
10 Would you repeat your moot court experience if you could?
Yes. I plan on doing it in law school
Kristin Hallak
1 What year did you participate and who was your teammate?
I participated in 2006 and my teammate was Mayra Contreras. My teammate for Nationals was Jillian Martins.
2 If you have graduated and moved on, did moot court help you for your future in any way?
N/A
3 What is your fondest memory (that can be repeated) about moot court?
I will never forget standing up at the podium and having everything finally come together. I didn’t need my notes and I could speak intelligently about the cases and my arguments. By the time I stepped down, I knew the other team had us beat by points, but I also knew that I had done my personal best. In addition, I had the chance to meet and get to know some really great people. Competing in nationals was an amazing experience, but it was the cohesiveness of Team Long Beach that made it one of those experiences that all others will be compared to.
4 What was the best thing about moot court?
Moot court was more than a class – it was an experience. From the nights staying up late writing case brief after case brief to the out of class meetings with my partner making sure our arguments made sense, it was a blast.
5 What was the worst thing about moot court?
The worst thing about moot court was the amount of effort that was required. This, however, turned out to be the best thing in the end. Moot court ended up teaching me a lot about the law and public speaking, but it taught me even more about myself.
6 What do you miss about moot court?
I miss the crazy, what-if questions that Dr. Ringel would throw at us during practice that used to drive me so crazy J
7 What tournaments did you compete in and what were they like?
I competed in the Regional tournament here in Long Beach. This was my first tournament and it was a lot of fun. I also competed at the national tournament in Virginia. I was petrified right up until the point when I began making my arguments, but it was so great once I started. It was an unforgettable experience.
8 What advice would you give future mooters?
Moot court is not one of those classes that you should take just to take. You have to want it, but if you want it, you’ll love it. Put in the time, read the cases, re-read the cases, and then maybe read them again. Then create your arguments, go over them, repeat them, talk to yourself in a mirror, drive your family and friends crazy by saying them, and then practice them some more. It’ll be a rewarding experience if you put in the effort. And wear comfortable shoes.
9 Who was the BEST mooter you ever saw? Do you recall his or her school? What was so
good about him or her?
I can’t remember a specific mooter as completely standing out, but I did see many great speakers. They were passionate, intelligent, concise, controlled the room and demanded your attention by the way that they spoke.
10 Would you repeat your moot court experience if you could?
I definitely plan to.