chevron-down Created with Sketch Beta.

First Amendment and Media Law Diversity Moot Court Competition

Moot Court Competition Finals
Thursday, February 6, 2025 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Omni Austin Hotel Downtown
700 San Jacinto at East 8th Street
Austin, TX 78701

Introduction

The annual First Amendment and Media Law Diversity Moot Court Competition, now in its 17th year, is designed to introduce diverse law students to the practice of media law and to lawyers active in the communications law bar. The Competition hypothetical will involve timely issues of national significance in the areas affecting communications law. 

Eligibility

Students from any ABA-accredited law school are encouraged to apply to participate in the competition. Students must be members of a chapter of the National Black Law Students Association; the National Latino/a Law Student Association; the National Asian Pacific American Law Student Association; the National Native American Law Students Association; National Disabled Law Students Association; National LGBT Bar’s Law Student Congress or a comparable minority law student organization at their school.

Application Process

Law students (team or individual student) interested in the Competition must submit (1) the Application Form (including preexisting writing sample and resume); (2) an eligible Opening Statement video and (3) ABA One Time Guest Traveler Profile Request Form (collectively, “Application Materials”).

There is no fee to apply. All Application Materials are due and must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. PDT on the deadline date. Each student applying as a member of a team must submit an individual writing sample, resume, Opening Statement video and travel form.

Based on the Application Materials, competitors are selected to submit an appeal brief based on the Competition hypothetical as part of a two-person team. Applicants who did not apply as part of a team will be paired with a partner, provided a sufficient number of competitors are selected to participate.

Moot Court Competition Application

 Deadline Extended: October 20, 2024!

Competition Overview

Each selected Competition team will be paired with a practicing media lawyer for career advice, mentoring and networking. Mentors also will review and comment on the team’s appellate brief.

Based on each team’s brief score, the top four teams will be selected to participate in the initial virtual oral argument round. The four highest-scoring individuals, based on a combined team brief score and individual oral argument scores, will advance to the final round of argument, which will be held in person during the Forum on Communications Law’s Annual Conference scheduled to take place February 6-8, 2025 at Omni Austin Hotel Downtown in Austin, Texas.

The team with the highest brief score will be deemed “Best Brief” and each team member will be awarded $1,000. The team with the highest score for the final round of oral arguments will be the winner of the Competition. Each member of the winning team will receive $750. The finalist with the highest score for the final round of oral argument will be deemed “Best Oralist” and will receive $1,500. Each competitor is responsible for any taxes associated with receiving the trip to the Annual Conference and the monetary prizes.

Additional details and complete Official Rules: Moot Court 2024-2025 Competition Official Rules

Competition Administration 

The First Amendment and Media Law Diversity Moot Court Competition is administered by the American Bar Association Forum on Communications Law. The Competition Committee, made up of volunteer scholars and practitioners from across the field of media law, will oversee the administration of the Competition.


For any questions, please contact the Competition Committee at: [email protected]

Natalie Harris
Baron Harris Healey
Chicago, IL 

Linda R. Norbut
Thomas & LoCicero
Tampa, FL

Amy Kristin Sanders 
The University of Texas at Austin | Moody College of Communication
Austin, TX