Apart from their assigned mod courses, 1L students may only enroll in courses offered as 1L electives. A complete list of these courses can be found on the 1L Elective Listings page. 1L students must use the 1L class number listed on the course description when enrolling.
295.3J sec. 001 - McBaine Honors Competition (Spring 2023)
Instructor: Gregory Derrell Washington
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Units: 2
Grading Designation: Credit Only
Mode of Instruction: In-Person
Course End: April 28, 2023
Class Number: 31976
Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 14
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 36
As of: 08/24 11:03 PM
The James Patterson McBaine Honors Competition is Berkeley Law’s venerable moot court competition and is open to all second- and third-year J.D. students as well as all LL.M. students. Competitors will prepare an appellate brief and deliver at least two oral arguments. Cases chosen for the competition involve cutting-edge issues of great public importance. The final round judges are typically among the most renowned jurists in the nation.
The Competition does not have a regular classroom component. Students who register for the competition will be required to complete a commitment form in addition to course registration affirming their decision to participate. Three lunchtime training sessions are made available to students enrolled in the competition to help them prepare by providing limited guidance on research, brief writing, and oral argument. While this is primarily a self-guided competition, it is also an educational experience, and participants are highly encouraged to attend all training sessions to maximize their learning and chance of success in the competition. Students can schedule individual meetings throughout the course of the competition with the student directors of the McBaine Competition and/or Greg Washington, the McBaine Academic Director. This competition is also supervised by Natalie Winters, Director of the Advocacy Competitions Program.
Students will submit their final briefs in mid-February, with the option to receive limited feedback beforehand by submitting a draft brief to the student directors and the McBaine Academic Advisor in mid-January. Judges, Berkeley Law faculty, and practitioners will evaluate the briefs and initial rounds of oral arguments. Competition rounds will take place in the evening from late February to mid-March and ending before spring break. (Competitors with evening childcare responsibilities or other serious evening conflicts should contact the student directors as soon as possible. We will try in good faith to accommodate these conflicts.)
Students will advance from the preliminary rounds based on the combined strength of their written brief and oral argument, with advancement to the semi- and final rounds determined solely based on the quality of the oral argument. Prizes are awarded for the best brief and the best oral argument for Petitioner and Respondent, respectively.
Competitors receive 2 units for satisfactory participation in the competition. An introductory meeting will be hosted by the student directors late in the Fall semester.
This course is subject to the overall three-unit maximum for competition work. Please note that there is an overall 18-unit maximum for non-law/non-classroom work. (at Academic Rules (opens in a new tab), Rule 3.1(b)(2), and Rule 5).
This course is subject to the overall three-unit maximum for competition work. Please note that there is an overall 18-unit maximum for non-law/non-classroom work. (at Academic Rules (opens in a new tab), Rule 3.1(b)(2), and Rule 5).
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Requirements Satisfaction:
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Exam Notes: (T) Course ends in a final practice trial, arguments, or other presentation (e.g. Powerpoint)
(Subject to change by faculty member only through the first two weeks of instruction)
Course Category: Simulation Courses
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