Minnesota Law Moot Court Team Advances to Quarterfinals, Wins 3rd Best Brief

In late January, Minnesota Law participated in the Hicks Thomas, LLP Moot Court National Championship held at the University of Houston Law Center. The team advanced to the quarterfinals, finishing in the Top 8, and also earned the award for the 3rd best brief. The Honorable James Graves Jr. of the 5th Circuit presented the team with the award for the 3rd best brief. The national championship team includes Leah Kanihan ’25, David Lindgren ’25, and Madeleine Kim ’25, with coaches Professors Randall Ryder ‘09 and Brad Clary ‘75.

A group of three students holding awards they won at Moot Court.
Leah Kanihan '25, David Lindgren '25, and Madeleine Kim '25 received 3rd best brief and advanced to the quarterfinals.

The championship is an invitation-only event. The top 16 law schools are invited to compete based on cumulative results for the entire competition season. This is the first year Minnesota Law has broken through to the top 16 after achieving several notable successes in last year’s competition season.

In 2023-24, the Law School advanced to the national round of the National Moot Court Competition, won the Mardi Gras Moot Court Invitational, won the Jeffrey Miller Environmental Law Competition at Pace Law School, and won the MSU Gender & Sexuality Moot Competition. Additional teams won both team and individual awards at other competitions.

“David, Leah, and Madeleine are exceptional advocates. Their dedication to each other and embracing a ‘team-first’ mentality was a key factor in their success,” says Professor Randall Ryder '09, director of Minnesota Law’s Moot Court Program. “Numerous coaches and competitors praised the students’ professionalism in addition to their advocacy skills. David, Leah, and Madeleine proudly represented themselves, our moot court program, and the Law School.” 

Randall Ryder ’09

Assistant Professor of Appellate Advocacy
Director of Moot Court Program
Director of Law in Practice

Brad Clary ’75

Professor of Law Emeritus
Distinguished University Teaching Professor