Overview

The Suffolk University Law School Moot Court Honor Board is proud to host two appellate competitions each year for Suffolk Law students.  Each year, the Moot Court Honor Board hosts the Honorable Walter H. McLaughlin Appellate Advocacy Competition and the Tom C. Clark Appellate Advocacy Competition. 

These competitions provide students with an opportunity to further their oral advocacy skills and sharpen their courtroom presence outside of the classroom.

For specific information regarding the Moot Court Honor Board Appellate Competitions, please contact Steven Vallarelli, Executive Director of Appellate Competitions.

The Honorable Walter H. McLaughlin Appellate Advocacy Competition

The Honorable Walter H. McLaughlin Appellate Advocacy Competition is the first competition of the school year and is named after the Honorable Walter H. McLaughlin, who served as Chief Justice to the Massachusetts Superior Court from 1970 to 1977.  It is one of the most well-attended and respected competitions that the Law School offers. Students who were selected as Best Oral Advocate of their Legal Practice Skills section are eligible to compete in the competition.  Competitors have one week to prepare their oral arguments based upon petitioner and respondent briefs written by members of the Moot Court Honor Board.

Eligibility: The McLaughlin Appellate Advocacy Competition is only open to students who received the Best Oral Advocate Award in their LPS section.

2009-2010 Co-Directors of the Honorable Walter H. McLaughlin Appellate Advocacy Competition:

Elizabeth Caputo

Marcy Rolerson

Katherine Sarmini

Competition Date:

Fall 2009 (exact dates will be announced as the competition approaches)

Deadline to Register:

By invitation only

The Tom C. Clark Appellate Advocacy Competition

The Tom C. Clark Appellate Advocacy Competition is a writing and oral advocacy competition named after the former Supreme Court Justice, Tom C. Clark, who served on the Court from 1949 to 1967.  The competition is conducted during the spring semester and is open to students who have completed their first year of law school. Each team consists of two students who will write an appellate brief based on a record that the Moot Court Honor Board provides.  In addition, each student will prepare and argue one of the two issues in front of a panel comprised of up to three judges.  Students are expected to be able to argue both sides of the appellate issues.

Eligibility:   All students who have completed their first year of law school.

2009-2010 Co-Directors of the Tom C. Clark Appellate Advocacy Competition:

Elizabeth Caputo

Marcy Rolerson

Katherine Sarmini

Competition Date:

January to mid- March 2010

Deadline to Register:

TBA