Advocacy at Texas Tech Law

Recent Championships

National and International

• National Moot Court Competition – February 2012 and February 2011 – National Champions
• ABA Arbitration Competition – January 2012 – National Champions
• National Entertainment Law Negotiation Competition – October 2011 – National Finalists
• Liberty University National Negotiation Competition – January 2012 – National Finalists
• National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition – February 2012 – National Semifinalists
• San Diego Defense Lawyers Mock Trial Competition – October 2011 – National Semifinalists
• ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition – April 2012 – National Quarterfinalists
• Conrad B. Duberstein National Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition – March 2012 – National Quarterfinalists
• National Entertainment Law Moot Court Competition – November 2011 – National Quarterfinalists

State and Regional

• ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition – March 2012 and March 2011 – Dual Regional Champions
• National Moot Court Competition – November 2011 and November 2010 – Regional Champions
• ABA Arbitration Competition – November 2011 and November 2010 – Regional Champions
• ABA Client Counseling Competition – February 2012 – Regional Champions

Best Brief/Oralist Awards

• National Moot Court Competition – February 2012 – National Best Brief
• National Moot Court Competition – February 2011 – National Best Advocate
• National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition – February 2012 – National Best Brief
• National Moot Court Competition – November 2011 – Regional Best Brief
• ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition – March 2012 – Regional Best Brief
• National Moot Court Competition – February 2012 – Runner-Up National Best Advocate

"Texas Tech Law is focused on training students to become outstanding attorneys who serve their clients and communities with great skill, compassion, and professionalism. Our award-winning advocacy programs are an important component of this training. Our faculty and alumni are fiercely devoted to helping students hone their advocacy skills; it is a hallmark of a Texas Tech Law education."

– Darby Dickerson, Dean of Texas Tech University School of Law

Texas Tech University School of Law's Advocacy Program has established itself among the nation's elite through its extraordinary success in regional, national, and international competitions. Students learn and perfect practical lawyering skills by conducting legal research, drafting briefs, and participating in oral arguments. They also work closely with faculty, staff, and alumni mentors who set the example for competent, professional practice. School of Law professors and organizations sponsor and coach various other teams through their own programs.

Prospective moot court and mock trial team members present prepared arguments individually during moot court and mock trial tryouts held in the spring. Tryout judges, usually consisting of current and former coaches, evaluate students. Top scorers are placed with a team taking into consideration talent, team dynamics, and suitability for the certain competition among other factors.

Typically, members of the ABA Client Counseling and Negotiations teams are second- and third-year students who showed success in the Board of Barristers-sponsored intra-school client counseling and negotiations competitions.

For more information on Tech Law competitive teams, contact Director of Advocacy Rob Sherwin.

Fast Facts

• Texas Tech Law fields 30 teams in moot court, mock trial, arbitration, negotiation, and client counseling each year.
• Texas Tech Law has won 26 state, national, and international championships and 15 best brief/best advocate awards since 2008.
• In 2010 and 2011, Texas Tech Law won one international championship, three national championships, five regional championships, and five best advocate awards at national competitions.
• Texas Tech Law finished No. 2 in the Blakely Advocacy Center's 2011 moot court program rankings.
• Texas Tech Law finished as the country's No. 2 moot court program in 2010 and 2011 according to LawSchoolAdvocacy.com.
• Nearly 20 percent of second- and third-year students are members of traveling teams.
• More than 75 percent of the student body participates in at least one intraschool or interschool advocacy competition before graduation.