Fall 2023
Environmental Moot Court introduces students to the art of appellate advocacy by focusing on current issues in environmental law. The course is taught by adjunct professors, who have experience practicing environmental law and also appellate litigation. An experienced 3L student director also provides feedback on written and oral assignments.
Fall semester focuses on the underlying substantive law. Students complete three written assignments that become components of spring semester’s full appellate brief assignment. This year, attorneys that worked on a case similar to the course problem provided guidance on how to address the issues and provided advice on effective written advocacy.
In the spring, students complete two written assignments that form the argument section of their complete brief, with the final brief due in mid-spring. After that, students transition to the art of oral advocacy and complete an oral argument at the end of the semester. This year, guest speakers from the Minnesota Supreme Court and 8th Circuit Court of Appeals provided guidance on effective oral advocacy.
Upon completion of the course, the instructors encourage students to apply for a spot on the Environmental Moot Court competition team, along with a student director position for the following year. The course also reserves one spot for a rising 2L that took the course to be on the 3L competition team.