Okay, here’s my post about the National Entertainment Law Moot Court Competition.
Man, law school was a wild ride, but one of the craziest things I did was join the moot court team. And not just any moot court, we signed up for the National Entertainment Law competition. I had always loved entertainment and wanted to be an entertainment lawyer. I thought this would be an excellent way to learn and improve my skills.
First off, let me tell you, moot court is basically fake court. You get a made-up legal problem, and you have to pretend to be a real lawyer, arguing in front of judges. It’s intense! This particular competition was all about entertainment law, which is like, copyright stuff, contract disputes with celebrities, and all that jazz. I thought to myself “what did I get myself into?”.
We started by just diving into the problem. It was this massive document with all sorts of facts and legal issues. It felt like trying to drink from a fire hose. I spent days just reading and trying to understand what was going on. We had to figure out what the actual legal questions were, then research like crazy to find cases and laws that supported our side. I must have read a hundred court decisions, and let me tell you, legal writing is not exactly light reading. Some other students in the moot court club gave us some good advice, and the professor was also very helpful.
Then came the writing part. We had to write a brief, which is basically a super long, super formal essay explaining our arguments. This thing was a beast. We spent weeks writing, editing, rewriting, and editing some more. My teammates and I were practically living in the library. We’d be there until 2 AM, fueled by instant noodles and the sheer will to finish this thing.
Once the brief was done, it was time to practice our oral arguments. This is where we had to stand up in front of people and actually argue the case. We practiced in front of each other, in front of other law students, and even in front of some actual lawyers who volunteered to help us out. Getting grilled with tough questions was nerve-wracking, but it was the best way to get better. The lawyers and other students were very helpful. They gave me a lot of advice on how to improve my arguments and presentation.
Finally, the competition day arrived. We flew out to wherever it was held that year – I think it was Nashville? Anyway, we were up against teams from law schools all over the country. These people were good. Really good. Everyone was sharp and well-prepared. My team did well in the preliminary rounds. We won several rounds, and I was starting to feel more confident. We were on a roll and were feeling pretty good.
The actual arguments were a blur. I remember standing at the podium, seeing the judges in front of me, and just trying to remember everything I had practiced. It was a total adrenaline rush. We argued our hearts out, answered the judges’ questions as best we could, and hoped for the best.
In the end, we didn’t win the whole thing, but we made it to the semi-finals! Which, for a bunch of law students who didn’t even know what “copyright” meant a few months earlier, was pretty darn good. We were disappointed, but it was still a great result. I was really proud of myself and my team.
What did I learn?
- Research is key. You gotta know the law inside and out. And entertainment law is a whole different beast.
- Writing matters. That brief was the hardest thing I’ve ever written. But it taught me how to write clearly and persuasively. It was a great writing experience. I have since used those skills in other competitions and tasks.
- Speaking skills are crucial. You can know all the law in the world, but if you can’t articulate your arguments, you’re toast. Public speaking is a skill that you need to practice. I think I have become much better at it.
- Teamwork makes the dream work. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. We pushed each other, supported each other, and celebrated our victories together.
Would I do it again? Absolutely. It was one of the most challenging, but also most rewarding, experiences of law school. If you’re a law student thinking about doing moot court, go for it! You won’t regret it. I would encourage every law student to participate in moot court. It has helped me a lot in my career. I have become a better writer and speaker. I can now also argue better. I also made some great friends during the competition.
And hey, if you get a chance to do the National Entertainment Law one, even better. Just be prepared to work your tail off. It’s worth it in the end. My experience in this competition is one that I will never forget. I learned a lot of valuable lessons. Even though it was difficult, I had a great time. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in entertainment law.
