Hosted by The Board
Negotiations competitions revolve around a fictitious problem that relates to a specific area of law. Two teams, each comprised of two students, must work together in a simulated negotiation to get the best results for their respective client. The simulated negotiations allow students to hone skills they will need throughout their career for mergers & acquisitions, settlements, and mediations. These competitions essentially
focus on the part of the job that happens outside of a courtroom.
Moot Court is designed to give students a first-hand experience with arguing a case before a Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court. Teams of two advocates are given the opportunity to zealously defend their client against another team of two in a simulated courtroom setting. Advocates will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of the law, the facts of the case, their demeanor in the courtroom, and their ability to answer questions that are posited by judges. Successful advocates are able to present their argument as a conversation with the judging panel by fluidly incorporating questions into their explanation of the law. Students that participate in Moot Court competitions gain invaluable experience that can be directly applied to the real world. Whether or not they are in a courtroom, the ability to weave an argument together while having to think on their feet and get to the root of the issue provides advocates with a contemporaneous ability to be prepared for any situation.
Mock Trial is a two hour competition where students advocate on behalf of a fictitious client. The competition simulates a real-life trial and teaches advocates how to perform in a courtroom. Mock Trial provides competitors with invaluable experience at preparing a winning case. Students rely on the Federal Rules of Evidence to further their cases and must prepare for any opposing arguments they may encounter. Here at Texas Tech University School of Law, oral advocacy is a building block for training the next generation of competent and skilled trial attorneys. In our opinion, allowing students to perform in a courtroom on a regular basis is one of the best ways of encouraging students to be confident in their abilities.