UM Law’s International Moot Court team has competed in competitions such as the Pace Law School International Criminal Court Moot Competition and the Jessup Competition.

The University of Miami School of Law’s Moot Court teams have been ranked 14th in the nation this year by the Blakely Advocacy Institute at the University of Houston Law Center. As one of the top moot court programs in the country, UM Law has been invited to Houston to compete for the national championship in January 2011.

“Placing 14th among more than 200 law schools in the country is a testament to the hard work and talent of our members, adjunct faculty, coaches and judges, and the continued support of the administration,” said Lauren Tuckey, incoming president of the Charles Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board. “The Moot Court Board is eager to build upon its reputation as one of the top moot court boards in the country and a prominent training ground for future litigators.”

The moot court teams—the Charles Papy, Jr.  Moot Court Board and the International Moot Court—have achieved success at both the national and international levels this year.

The Charles Papy, Jr. Moot Court team advanced to the finals of the ABA Law Student Division National Appellate Advocacy Competition. Only 24 teams out of the 187 that entered the competition made it to the final round. In addition to advancing to the finals, the team was recognized with a third place Best Brief Award and a sixth place Best Oralist Award in the regional competition.

The team also competed in the National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition (the premier environmental law competition in the country), making it past the quarterfinal round, where they were the only law school in Florida and one of nine teams remaining. During the competition, third-year law student Daniel Poterek was named Best Oral Advocate.

The Charles Papy, Jr. Moot Court team was one only 24 teams to advance to the finals of the ABA Law Student Division National Appellate Advocacy Competition.

UM Law’s International Moot Court team placed second in the Pace Law School International Criminal Court Moot Competition held in The Hague. The team, consisting of second-year law students Jordan Greenberg, Erin Boatman, and Thomas Moskal, argued before a distinguished bench of judges. Greenberg won the award for Best Prosecutor and was the second best oralist; Moskal was the third best oralist.

In addition, the International Moot Court team competed in the 51st Southeastern Super Regional Round of the Jessup Competition, advancing to the second round and placing among the top seven teams out of the 24 teams present.

For the first time in its history, the team also advanced to the elimination round in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court Competition in Vienna.  At the Madrid Moot competition, the team made it to the quarterfinals, where Mariana Cardenas received an honorable mention for Best Orator and Joan Martinez-Evora was the third best oralist.

“We are extremely proud of the success the board has had this past school year, and it is an honor for the school to be recognized with this ranking,” said Kevin Huber, president of the International Moot Court Board. “The tireless dedication of our students and coaches in each competition enabled us to consistently succeed on the international circuit. We are looking forward to building on last year’s success during this coming school year and into the future.”