The Frederick Douglass Moot
Court Competition is a national moot court competition that focuses primarily
on public and civil rights law and topics of particular relevance to communities of color. Competing in teams of two, competitors must submit briefs in
the middle of the fall semester and argue orally for a minimum of three rounds
at regionals early in the spring semester. The top three teams from regionals advance to the national competition. The competition is open to all members of the National Black Law Students Association, which does not restrict its membership.
Columbia competitors are coached by two upperclass students, and receive individual support writing the brief and at least a month of live oral argument
practice before panels of student judges. The coaches this year are Natalie Miller (natalie.miller@law.columbia.edu) and Stephen MacArthur (stephen.macarthur@law.columbia.edu).
Last year, the Columbia Law team
triumphed and several students competed at the National Moot
Court Competition.
Columbia Law School's 2008 Frederick Douglass Moot Court team at the Federal Courthouse in Springfield, Mass., where semi-final and final arguments took place.
Columbia’s participation in domestic moot court competitions is underwritten through a grant from Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP.
