4.12.01 Scope
This policy applies to all inter-scholastic competitions involving
Appellate Advocacy, Mock Trial, Negotiation, or similar skills, except
for the National Moot Court Team.
4.12.02 Competitions Committee
A. There shall be a Competitions Committee consisting of three full-time
faculty members appointed by the Dean and two students appointed by
the Moot Court Board.
B. No team may be entered in an inter-scholastic competition without
the prior approval of the Competitions Committee.
4.12.03 Academic Credit
Students competing in the Jessup International Law competition shall
be eligible for two (2) hours of academic credit upon satisfactory completion
of a competition. Students competing in other competitions covered by
this policy shall be eligible for one (1) hour of academic credit upon
satisfactory completion of a competition. Such credit shall be awarded
on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis, subject to the determination
of the Faculty Advisor. The student may choose to take the credit during
the semester in which the oral rounds of the competition occur, or in
a later semester. Students may choose not to apply for academic credit.
4.12.04 Approval of inter-scholastic competitions
A. Application by Students and Student Organizations. A student organization,
an individual student, or a group of two or more students may make a
proposal to the Competitions Committee to enter an interscholastic competition
in the following academic year. Such a proposal must be submitted in
writing by March 1. The proposal should include the following:
1. The name of the proposed faculty advisor, if determined;
2. A proposed budget, including entry fees; travel costs; brief printing
and mailing costs; and any other costs;
3. The name and address of the competition sponsors;
4. Any other information on the competition or which the student(s)
or organization wishes to have considered.
B. Application by a Faculty Member. A member of the full-time faculty,
the legal writing faculty; a clinic staff attorney; or adjunct professor
may make a proposal to the Competitions Committee to enter an interscholastic
competition in the following academic year. Such a proposal must be
submitted in writing by March 1. The proposal should include the following:
1. The name of the proposed faculty advisor, if determined;
2. A proposed budget;
3. The name and address of the competition sponsors;
4. Any other information on the competition or which the faculty
member wishes to have considered.
C. Committee Initiative. The Competitions Committee may also select
competitions to enter on its own initiative.
D. Recommendation to Dean. Based on proposals received from students
and faculty, and its own initiative, the Competitions Committee will
provide the Dean with recommendations on which competitions to enter.
4.12.05 Faculty Advisor
A. Selection. A team must have a Faculty Advisor to be approved for
competition. Normally, the Faculty Advisor will be a member of the full
time faculty. However, the Competitions Committee may approve a member
of the legal writing faculty, clinic staff attorney, or adjunct professor
to serve as the Faculty Advisor for a competition.
B. Duties. The Faculty Advisor for each competition will:
1. Play an active role in selecting the team and shall make the final
selection of team members. The Faculty Advisor has primary responsibility
for assuring that the selection of the team is conducted in a fair,
unbiased, and rational manner based upon the merits of the students
applying for selection. Normally, the Faculty Advisor would be expected
to attend any oral tryouts and read any writing samples submitted
as part of the selection process;
2. Closely monitor and supervise the students in preparation of memoranda,
briefs, and oral arguments as permitted by the sponsors of the respective
competitions. Even if the rules of the respective competition preclude
Faculty or other assistance, the Faculty Advisor should review and
retain copies of all memoranda, briefs, and other final work product
as would be done for class papers and exams. The Faculty Advisor should
observe most student practice rounds.
3. Work with the students to establish a practice schedule, and
arrange for practice round judges to watch and comment on the team.
Teams should normally be expected to do a minimum of eight or more
practices.
4. Personally attend the inter-scholastic competition, advise the
team within the limits permitted by the rules of the competition,
and make arrangements for the entry, attendance and participation
of the team at the competition.
5. Evaluate the performance of the students and the quality of their
participation; and, where a team member applies for academic credit,
determine whether the student=s participation merits the award of
credit.
6. Be responsible for the team’s budget.
4.12.06 Team Selection
A. Teams must be selected through a process open to any member of the
student body, subject to the restrictions of paragraphs b, c, and d,
of this subsection, below. Where the rules of the competition require
students to be members of an organization in order to participate in
the competition, students wishing to participate on the team may be
required to join the organization, and to pay any required dues. However,
no team will be authorized for outside competition if membership in
such organization is not open to any student. Team selection may be
based solely, or on a combination of, factors including oral try-outs,
writing samples, grades, work experience, personal interview, and other
lawful, relevant criteria.
B. First year students may not participate in inter-scholastic competitions.
C. Students on academic probation at the time of team selection may
not be selected for inter-scholastic competitions. Where a student is
placed on academic probation between the time of team selection and
the competition, the student may, with approval of the team Faculty
Advisor, complete the competition. In deciding whether the student may
continue, the Faculty Advisor should consider the student=s academic
standing and situation; the work already put forth by the student and
the amount required in the following semester; the ability to substitute
team members under the competition rules; and other relevant criteria.
D. No student may participate in more than one inter-scholastic competition
in an academic year.
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