National Moot Court Team

The WashU Law National Moot Court Team participates annually in two of the most competitive and prestigious moot court competitions in the country: the ABA’s National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC) and the Spong Invitational Moot Court Tournament.

An empty courtroom with wooden paneling, a judge's bench, and two American flags. Rows of seats face the bench under large windows, conveying formality.

Two Decades of NAAC Recognition

1 national title
1 national runner-up
9 appearances in the national top eight
17 regional championships

Nine Spong Tournament Appearances

2 national championships
5 final round appearances
12 national top ten individual speaking awards
9 “Best Speaker” awards
40+ individual speaking awards

Participation Timeline

1L Spring	Application
2L Fall	Team members attend three “moot camps” for training in oral and written advocacy
2L Winter	Written brief
2L Spring	Practice and competition; one academic credit awarded

Application and Audition Requirements

Complete
Application
Form

Requirements
Persuasive writing sample
Unofficial transcript
Resume
Identification of topic of your choice for 10-minute oral argument (with questioning)

2026
National Competition Success

Advanced to the national elimination rounds in a premier appellate competition.

2025
Outstanding Oral Advocate

Team member recognized as an Outstanding Oral Advocate at Nationals.

2024
Strong Alumni Participation

Record number of alumni judges and volunteers supported our team.

2023
Tradition of Excellence

Continued a legacy of excellence with deep roots and a bright future.

National Moot Court Team Coaches

Richard Finneran

Adjunct Professor

Cort VanOstran

Adjunct Professor

FAQ

All WashU Law JD students are eligible to participate. You audition any time after the end of your 1L year.

No. We structure our practice schedule around the team members’ class schedules. Other than attending competition, you will never be required to miss class to participate on the team.

There are 12 spots on the National Moot Court Team.

Each team member attends one competition each year: either the National Appellate Advocacy Competition or the Spong Invitational Moot Court Tournament. The NAAC, however, has a separate national final, so if you win regionals, you will travel twice in the spring.

No. The school covers all airfare and lodging expenses and provides team members with a daily per diem to cover meal expenses during competition.

A lot. We win an average of one NAAC regional championship each year and a national championship every two to three years. We also regularly win multiple speaking and writing awards each year.

Our practices generally last about an hour and a half, during which we will typically simulate an oral argument for the first hour and spend the last half hour discussing areas for improvement. The three “moot camps” held in the fall are about four hours apiece.

Once you are assigned to a competition squad, you and two other team members will work together to write a brief on the issues assigned by the competition. Especially for the NAAC, writing the brief requires substantial work over winter break, but you and your teammates will work together to manage the responsibility. You will also receive training on brief-writing during the “moot camps” in the fall, which will help prepare you to successfully complete the written portion of the competition.

All of our coaches are practicing attorneys and former members of the National Moot Court Team who volunteer their time to coach the next generation of oral advocates. Prof. Finneran, who is the head coach of the team, has been involved with the team for two decades and has been voted four times as the Adjunct Professor of the Year.

Almost universally, our students report that the National Moot Court Team was both the most enjoyable part of their law school education and the thing that best prepared them for real-life practice. We pride ourselves on providing an educational experience that gives students the tools they need to be skilled oral advocates and successful attorneys once they graduate from law school.

Recent highlights from the WashU Law community.

All News

National Moot Court Team

Two Decades of NAAC Recognition