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Research Guide for Law Co-curricular Organizations: Moot Court/Trial Team

This guide presents resources primarily for Villanova University School of Law students participating in a Journal, Moot Court, Trial Team and the Sports Negotiations team.

Summer 2025 Competition Registration Links

1. Watch the Journals + Competition Teams Info session held on April 13, 2025 

2. Watch the Tryout Basics Information Session heldon Friday, April 18th @ 6PM on Zoom

3. Review the Tryouts Timeline and information below

4. Register for the competition - Registration open April 14 - April 24, 2025 @ 11:59 PM

2025 FINALIZED Trial Team Tryout Timeline:

4/14- Registration Open

4/18- Tryout Basics Informational Session via Zoom at 6:00pm  

4/24- Registration Closes at 11:59pm

4/25- Tryout Schedules Emailed to Registrants

5/04- Tryout 1 Emailed Case Packet at 9am

5/08- Tryout 2 Emailed Case Packet at 9am

5/09- Tryout 3 Emailed Case Packet at 9am

5/18- Tryout 1 – Full Day

5/22- Tryout 2 – Afternoon/Evening

5/23- Tryout 3 – Afternoon/Evening

Week of 5/26- Recruitment Decisions Announced

National Trial Team Tryouts:

  • Tryouts will consist of a 5-minute prepared closing argument followed by a 10-minute informal "Q+A" session with the trial team coaches

  • All competitors will receive a case packet to base their closings on 2 weeks before their respective tryouts

  • All tryouts will be in person at the law school

  • Grades are not considered in tryouts

  • Performance in the 1L competition may be considered in the selection decision, but is not required to participate in the summer tryout

 

Information about Trial Team:

  • Members receive 2 credits during their Spring semester for participating on the team

  • Members are automatically pre-registered in Evidence and Trial Advocacy 

  • Members generally compete in one trial competition per semester 

  • Members are required to attend two practices per week (Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings) each semester leading up to their competition date

  • You are allowed to participate in a Journal or Moot Court AND Trial Team

2025 Moot Court Summer Competition

1. Watch the Journals + Competition Teams Info session held on April 13, 2025 

2. Attend the Coffee Break with the Moot Court Board on Tuesday, April 22nd, 12:20 - 1:20PM, in the Moot Court Board Room (room 206)

3. Register for the Competition, April 16 - April 23, 2025 @ 11:59 PM

 

REGISTRATION

  • Registration open April 16 -  April 23rd at 11:59pm
  • If you aren’t sure what groups you want to sign up for, but you are interested in Moot Court, please sign up! You will not be penalized for not completing our write-on process.

 

TRYOUT COMPONENTS

  • Abbreviated brief
  • Twelve-minute oral argument

 

TIMELINE

  1. Brief Problem Drops on Blackboard: May 11th
  2. Brief Writing: May 11th through May 25th at 11:59pm

  3. Oral Arguments IN PERSON: May 31st or June 1st

    • If you have an extenuating circumstance - please note this on the form and send that information to Arielle at ajacks09@law.villanova.edu

  1. Offers Made: (Tentative) Mid-June

 

ANONYMITY & BRIEF NUMBERS

  • After you register, you will receive an anonymous number that you will use to label your brief. DO NOT TELL ANYONE ON THE CURRENT TEAM YOUR NUMBER
  • It may take a few days after registration closes to get this number - please do not register twice
  • You will use this number on the brief as the signature and the title of the document

 

MATERIALS PROVIDED

  • You will receive a competition packet that contains the following information
    • Instructions/guidelines/rules for the brief
    • Closed universe problem that contains:
      • Fact pattern
      • Cases (closed universe problem - no additional research needed) 
      • Secondary sources (closed universe problem - no additional research needed
    • A sample brief

 

GENERAL RULES

  • NO COLLABORATION on the brief and oral argument
  • NO PLAGIARISM

  • DO NOT put your name anywhere on your brief
     

CONTACT INFORMATION BEFORE MAY 11TH

 

CONTACT INFORMATION AFTER MAY 11TH

  • This year, questions during write-on will be submitted through an anonymous thread on Blackboard in order to increase efficiency and reduce response time 

 

Advocacy and Oral Argument

Word Formatting Resources

LinkedInLearning

All Villanova Law students have access to the tutorials and quizzes available through the LinkedIn Learning platform. Students can any number of the 15,000 courses on many different subjects including Microsoft Office and other tech skills, project management, entrepreneurship, video editing, data analysis and visualization 

Browse by topic or search for keywords in the search box at the top. There are courses on the basics of GDPR, Music Law, computer crimes, privacy laws, data breach notification laws and more. You can also view their learning paths to determine which courses might help you reach a specific goal or their collections of courses that focus on a particular issue.

Write.law Legal Technology and Soft Skills Development

Write.law has partnered with Westlaw to offer Westlaw subscribers three certification courses on Core Tech, Practice Tech and Legal Soft Skills. These interactive video lessons offer cheat sheets and quizzes to check your knowledge.

CALI Lessons: Substantive Areas of Law and Legal Research Skill Development

Working in a new area of law or different jurisdiction this summer? Or want to get a jump on a subject before your class starts in the fall? Check out a CALI lesson.