Moot Court
Moot Court Board of Appellate Advocacy
FIU Law’s Moot Court (Appellate Advocacy) Program emphasizes the development of brief-writing and oral-advocacy through state, regional, national, and international competitions against other law students from across the nation and around the world.
During the fall of their second or third year, FIU Law Students compete in an intramural moot court competition based on a real world problem developed by the Moot Court Executive Board for a chance to compete on the national and international Moot Court travel team. Local attorneys and judges evaluate the intramural competitors in a round robin and bracket styled competition that culminates in a championship round before a panel of state and federal judges.
As a member of the national and international travel team, each student develops their brief-writing and oral-advocacy skills through competitions that require students to submit an appellate brief and then argue in front a panel of attorneys and state or federal judges from across the country.
2024-2025 Moot Court Executive Board
Co-President: Samantha Arrastia
Co-President: Alexander Rubido
Vice President of External Competition: Sunny Toreihi
Vice President of Intramural Competition: Victoria May
Director of Public Relations: Cala Iglesias
Director of Coaches: Jefflyne Desilme
Director of Oral Arguments: Amanda Fraga
Director of Brief Grading: Amys Serret
Faculty Advisor: Professor Rima Mullins
Our Success
2023-2024 Rankings
21st Nationally
2nd Best in Florida
Previous Awards:
ABA National Moot Court Competition
2024 – Quarterfinalists; Third Place Best Brief in Brooklyn Regionals
2023 – Best Brief Award; Semifinalist; Quarterfinalist
2022 – Semifinalist
2021 – Best Advocate Award; Third Place Best Brief Award
2020 – Champions; Runner-Up Best Brief Award
2019 – Semifinalist; Top Ten Orator Award
2015 – Octo-Finalist
Billings, Exum, & Frye National Moot Court Competition
2024 – Octo-finalist; Third Best Orator
2023 – National Champions; Best Brief Award; Best Orator; Runner-Up Brief Award; Quarterfinalist
2022 – National Semifinalist
2020 – National Semifinalist; Best Brief Award
2019 – Semifinalist
2017 – Semifinalist
Claude Pepper Elder Law Moot Court Competition
2023 – Champion
Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition
2024 – Regional Champion; National Finalists; Best Brief; and Outstanding Oralist Award
E. Earle Zehmer National Moot Court Competition
2024 – Quarterfinalist
2022 – Best Brief Award; Quarterfinalist
2021 – Champion; Best Orator Award
2018 – National Semifinalist
Emory Civil Rights Moot Court Competition
2021 – National Semifinalist
Ferrell Intercultural Human Rights Moot Court Competition
2015 – Finalist; Runner-Up Best Memorial; Best Orator; Fourth Runner-Up Orator; Fifth Runner-Up Orator
2014 – Finalist; Best Orator; Runner-Up Best Orator
2013 – Finalist; Second Runner-Up Best Memorial; Runner-Up Best Orator; Third Runner-Up Best Orator; Fifth Runner-Up Best Orator
2012 – Finalist; Second Runner-Up Best Memorial; Best Orator; Runner-Up Best Brief
2011 – Third Place; Best Memorials
2010 – Third Place; Best Memorial; Best Brief; Semifinalist
2009 – Best Brief; Semifinalist; Best Orator; Runner-Up Best Orator; Second Runner-Up Best Orator
2008 – National Champion; Runner-Up Best Memorial; Best Orator; Runner-Up Best Orator; Second Runner-Up Best Orator
2007 – National Champion; Best Memorial; Best Orator; Runner-Up Best Orator; Runner-Up Best Brief
2006 – Finalist; Best Brief Award; Runner-Up Best Orator
Florida Bar Association Robert Orseck Memorial Moot Court Competition
2024 – Quarterfinalist
2023 – Quarterfinalist
2022 – Finalist
2019 – Best Brief
2018 – Quarterfinalist
2017 – Quarterfinalist
2012 – Semifinalist
2011 – Finalist
2010 – Semifinalist
2008 – Semifinalist
2007 – Semifinalist
2005 – Semifinalist
2004 – State Champion; Best Brief
Giles S. Rich Memorial Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition
2024 – Regional Finalists
Herbert Wechsler National Criminal Law Moot Court Competition
2023 – Quarterfinalist
Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
2024 – Octofinalist
2023 – Quarterfinalist
2020 – Semifinalists; Top Five Brief Award
2019 – Semifinalists; Top Five Brief Award; Top Ten Orator Award
2018 – Finalist; Best Oralists at the Southern Regional Tournament; International Championship Qualifier
2007 – Regional Round, Fifth Place
John J. Gibbons Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition
2019 – Champion; Best Respondent Brief; Best Preliminary Round Oralist; Runner-Up Best Preliminary Round Oralist
Monroe E. Price International Media Law Moot Court Competition
2015 – International Final Rounds; Americas Regional Round Runner-Up Team
2014 – International Final Rounds, Octo-finalist; Eighth-Place Orator; Tenth-Place Orator; America’s Regional Round, Quarterfinalist; Fourth-Place Orator; Semifinalist
2013 – Quarterfinalist; Octo-finalist
National Latina/o Law Student Association Moot Court Competition
2017 – Quarterfinalist
New York City Bar Association National Moot Court Competition
2022 – Regional Champions
2005 – Semifinalists; Fourth Place Brief; Fifth Place Brief
2004 – Finalist; Runner-Up Best Brief
Notre Dame Religious Freedom Moot Court Competition
2021 – National Semifinalist
Wechsler National First Amendment Moot Court Competition
2015 – Octo-finalist
2014 – Quarterfinalist
2013 – Quarterfinalist
2010 – Quarterfinalist
2009 – Quarterfinalist & Octo-finalist
2008 – Semifinalist; Octo-finalist; Quarterfinalist; Best Orator
2007 – Semifinalist, Octo-finalist, Runner-Up Best Orator; Runner-Up Best Brief
2006 – Semifinalist, Quarterfinalist & Runner-Up Best Brief
2005 – Semifinalist, Quarterfinalist & Third-Place Brief
2004 – National Champion
Eligibility
- Eligibility: Students must be FIU Law students in good standing (not on academic probation) and either 2L full-time students or 3L part-time students. Completion of LSV I and LSV II is also a prerequisite.
Try Outs/Intramural Competition
- Try Outs/Intramural Competition: To be eligible for the Moot Court team, students must take a two-credit pass/fail course called “Appellate Procedure” in the fall of their 2L year (or 3L year for part-time students). This accelerated course, beginning in August and concluding in mid-October, teaches students advanced brief writing and oral advocacy skills as they prepare to file an appellate brief and deliver oral arguments during the intramural competition. From late October through early November, students compete in a round robin and bracket style intramural competition that culminates in a championship round of oral arguments before a panel of appellate judges. The Moot Court Board will select the incoming class based on the students’ performances in the intramural competition.
- 22nd Annual Board of Appellate Advocates Intramural Moot Court Competition Program
FIU Law Moot Court Team Press Releases
FIU Law triumphs in Inaugural Elder Law Moot Court Competition: Second team clinches championship after intense battles in Tallahassee
FIU Law Moot Court Team Are Champions of the Billings, Exum, Frye National Moot Court Competition
FIU Team Crowned Winner of Elon Law’s 2023 Moot Court Competition
Moot Court Team Wins Regional Championship at National Moot Court Competition Qualifiers
Contact Information
Please contact Moot Court Executive Board at fiuboardofappellateadvocates@gmail.com