• College of Law
• Student Organizations
• Moot Court Board
  • Calendar
  • Executive Committee
  • Competitions
  • Current Members

Competitions

The Moot Court Board offers a variety of trial and appellate competitions for students to participate in during the year. Recently, the Board introduced a Negotiation competition to encourage students interested in dispute resolution to develop and master negotiation skills. All competitions are open to second or third year students. Some competitions are for Moot Court Board members only.

First year students are encouraged to participate in the competitions as bailiffs or witnesses. This exposure introduces first year students to mock advocacy and prepares them to compete as second-year students. In addition, each spring the Board sponsors the First Year Appellate Competition where all first year students jump head first into the world of appellate advocacy.

WUCL Open Appellate Competition

The Willamette University College of Law Open Appellate Competition is open to all second and third year law students. This open competition offers students interested in improving their appellate advocacy skills a competitive forum and interactive experience with other students and various members of the local legal community. The top team, if applicable, will be invited to join the Board.

Donald H. Turner Criminal Trial Competition

The Donald H. Turner Criminal Trial Competition was created to honor the memory of professor Donald H. Turner who contributed an immense amount of time and effort to the success of the Moot Court Board. The competition is held in the spring and is the second largest Moot Court Board sponsored competition. It is open to all second and third year law students. The top team, if applicable, will be invited to join the Board and will represent the law school at a national criminal trial competition. 

National Appellate Competition

The National Appellate Competition limited to Moot Court Board members only. The top team and one alternate will represent the Willamette College of Law at the National Appellate Competition.

Bruce Spaulding Trial Competition

Information pending.

First Year Appellate Competition

The First Year Appellate Competition is an appellate problem sponsored by the research and writing professors. Every spring, first year students write an appellate brief in conjunction with their research and writing class. In March, the first year students compete in oral arguments based on their briefs. The final rounds of the competition traditionally occur in the main courtroom of the Oregon Supreme Court Building and the panels of judges typically include members of both the Oregon Supreme Court and the Oregon Court of Appeals.