Advocacy Competitions

 
 


Internal Competitions


ADR
Professor Andy Spanogle (center) sponsors the annual Spanogle International Commercial Arbitration Competition in which the best, four returning students represent GW abroad during the next academic year at the Williem Vis Competition in either Vienna, Austria or Hong Kong, China.
 

 

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Board

The ADR Board is an honorary society that promotes student interest and the development of skills in the growing field of dispute resolution. Over the course of the year, the board sponsors various in-house competitions. The board also prepares students to compete externally at the regional and national level. Students gain membership on the board by excelling in ADR competitions.

[email protected]
202.994.2281

Annual competitions include:

  • Negotiations (fall and spring, internal, non-credit competition open to all 1L and 1LE students)
  • Spanogle International Arbitration (spring, internal, one-credit class only open to upper-level students, the best-returning students represent GW at the annual external Vis International Arbitration Competition in either Vienna or Hong Kong)

Past Successes
  • 2021: won the 10th Annual Health Law Regulatory & Compliance Competition
  • 2018: won the ABA Regional Negotiations Competition
  • 2009: won the ABA Regional Client Counseling Competition
  • 2008: won the ABA National Client Counseling Competition
  • 2008: won the ABA Regional Client Counseling Competition
  • 2005: won the ABA Regional Negotiations Competition
  • 2004: won the ABA Regional Client Counseling Competition
  • 2002: won the ABA Regional Client Counseling Competition
  • 2002: won the ABA Regional Mediation Competition
  • 2021: won the 10th Annual Health Law Regulatory & Compliance Competition
  • 2018: won the ABA Regional Negotiations Competition
  • 2009: won the ABA Regional Client Counseling Competition
  • 2008: won the ABA National Client Counseling Competition
  • 2008: won the ABA Regional Client Counseling Competition
  • 2005: won the ABA Regional Negotiations Competition
  • 2004: won the ABA Regional Client Counseling Competition
  • 2002: won the ABA Regional Client Counseling Competition
  • 2002: won the ABA Regional Mediation Competition

Cohen Cohen
Wayne Cohen and his firm sponsor the Cohen & Cohen Mock Trial Competition.
 

 

Mock Trial Board

The Mock Trial Board is a student-run honorary society dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in trial advocacy. The board conducts internal trial competitions, which are held under realistic conditions at DC Superior Court and judged by practicing litigators. Based upon performance in these competitions, top student litigators are selected for membership. Members of the Mock Trial Board also represent the Law School at external competitions across the nation. The Law School has achieved national recognition based on the success of Mock Trial Board members in these competitions.

[email protected]
202.994.3898

 

Mock Trial Board Website

Annual competitions include:

  • Cohen & Cohen Mock Trial (fall, internal, one-credit class only open to upper-level students, members of the best team win a graduation award) - This competition is generously sponsored by Wayne Cohen, an adjunct professor at the law school, and his law firm, Cohen & Cohen.
  • Spring Mock Trial (spring, internal, non-credit competition open to all first year students)
  • Estrella Trial Advocacy Competition (spring, external competition in San Juan, Puerto Rico open to all law schools; in order to register and participate, a GW team must be sponsored by the Mock Trial Board and/or secure a faculty coach)
Past Successes
  • 2021: won the Syracuse National Trial Competition held virtually
  • 2019: won the Estrella Trial Advocacy Competition in San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • 2019: won the Regional Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition in Annapolis, MD
  • 2018: won the National Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition in Brooklyn, NY
  • 2018: won the Regional Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition in Portsmouth, Virginia
  • 2018: won the TYLA Regional Trial Competition in Washington, DC
  • 2017: won the Estrella Trial Advocacy Competition in San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • 2014: won the Texas Young Lawyers Association’s National Trial Competition Regional in Washington, DC
  • 2011: won the Georgetown Law National White Collar Crime Mock Trial Invitational Competition in Washington, DC
  • 2011: won the ABA Section on Labor and Employment Law's Eighth Annual Law Student Trial Advocacy Regional Competition in Washington, DC
  • 2010: won the ABA Section on Labor and Employment Law's Seventh Annual Law Student Trial Advocacy Regional Competition in Boston, MA
  • 2008: won the ABA Quinnipiac University School of Law Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition in Vermont
  • 2004: won the American Trial Lawyers Association Regional Competition in Washington, DC
  • 2004: won the Regional Constance Baker Motley Trial Court Competition in Virginia Beach
  • 2003: won the American Trial Lawyers Association Regional Competition in Fairfax, Virginia
  • 2003: Co-Champions of the National Trial Competition Regional
  • 2021: won the Syracuse National Trial Competition held virtually
  • 2019: won the Estrella Trial Advocacy Competition in San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • 2019: won the Regional Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition in Annapolis, MD
  • 2018: won the National Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition in Brooklyn, NY   
  • 2018: won the Regional Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition in Portsmouth, Virginia  
  • 2018: won the TYLA Regional Trial Competition in Washington, DC 
  • 2017: won the Estrella Trial Advocacy Competition in San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • 2014: won the Texas Young Lawyers Association’s National Trial Competition Regional in Washington, DC
  • 2011: won the Georgetown Law National White Collar Crime Mock Trial Invitational Competition in Washington, DC
  • 2011: won the ABA Section on Labor and Employment Law's Eighth Annual Law Student Trial Advocacy Regional Competition in Washington, DC
  • 2010: won the ABA Section on Labor and Employment Law's Seventh Annual Law Student Trial Advocacy Regional Competition in Boston, MA
  • 2008: won the ABA Quinnipiac University School of Law Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition in Vermont
  • 2004: won the American Trial Lawyers Association Regional Competition in Washington, DC
  • 2004: won the Regional Constance Baker Motley Trial Court Competition in Virginia Beach
  • 2003: won the American Trial Lawyers Association Regional Competition in Fairfax, Virginia
  • 2003: Co-Champions of the National Trial Competition Regional

Moot Court Board
Supreme Court Justices Alito and Kavanaugh
Six current members of the Supreme Court have presided over the final round of the Van Vleck Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition.
 

 

Moot Court Board

The Moot Court Board is a student-run honorary society that plays a vital role at the GW Law by promoting the development of oral and written advocacy skills. Particular attention is given to fostering excellence in appellate oral advocacy. Membership is offered to first-year law students who achieve exceptional performance in the first-year moot court competition or to upper-class students who achieve distinction in one of the four internal moot court competitions. The board also selects students to represent the Law School at a variety of external competitions. GW was ranked as the 11th best moot court program in the country for the decade from 2006-2016. 

[email protected]
202.994.7070

Moot Court Board Website

Annual competitions include:

  • Van Vleck Constitutional Law (fall, internal, one credit class only open to upper-level students, members of the best team win a graduation award)
  • National Veterans Law (fall, external competition open to all law schools; in order to register and participate, a GW team must be sponsored by the Moot Court Board and/or secure a faculty coach) More information.
  • Rothwell Intellectual Property Law (spring, internal, one credit class only open to upper-level students, the best team represents GW at the external Giles Rich Competition)
  • First Year Moot Court (spring, internal, non-credit competition open to all first-year students)
Past Successes
  • 2022: won the Manfred Lachs Space Law North American Regional Moot Court Competition and Best Oral Advocate
  • 2021: won the American Bar Association's Region 2 National Appellate Advocacy Competition
  • 2021: won the Manfred Lachs Space Law North American Regional Moot Court Competition and Best Oral Advocate
  • 2021: won the DC Cup Moot Court Competition as well as Best Brief and Best Oral Advocate
  • 2021: won the 27th Annual National Telecommunications and Technology Moot Court Competition as well as awarded Best Brief and Best Overall Advocate
  • 2020: won the Emory Civil Rights and Liberties Moot Court Competition as well as Best Oral Advocate in the Finals, Best Brief Top 10, and Best Oral Advocate Top 10
  • 2020: won the Giles Rich Intellectual Property National Moot Court Competition as well as the Southeast Regional where they were also selected to have Best Brief
  • 2020: won the 26th Annual National Telecommunications Moot Court Competition in Washington, DC
  • 2019: won the Giles Rich Intellectual Property National Moot Court Competition & Best Brief in Washington, DC
  • 2019: won the 25th Annual National Telecommunications Moot Court Competition in Washington, DC
  • 2018: won the 24th Annual National Telecommunications Moot Court Competition in Washington, DC
  • 2017: won the KK Luthra Memorial Moot Court Competition at the University of Delhi, India and selected as Best Oral Advocate
  • 2017: won the DC Cup Moot Court Competition as well as Best Brief
  • 2016: won the 2016 Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Moot Court National Championship and also selected as Best Oralist 
  • 2016: won the DC Cup Moot Court Competition as well as Best Brief and Best Oral Advocate
  • 2015: won the National Moot Court Competition sponsored by the New York City Bar Association in New York, NY
  • 2014: won Region Three of the National Moot Court Competition sponsored by the New York City Bar Association
  • 2014: won the University of North Carolina's 37th Annual J. Braxton Craven, Jr. Memorial Moot Court Competition and selected as Best Oralist
  • 2014: won the ABA Forum on Communications Law's 6th Annual First Amendment & Media Law Diversity Moot Court in Aventura, Florida and recognized as best brief
  • 2014: won the Charleston School of Law National Moot Court Competition in South Carolina and recognized as best oralist for the championship round
  • 2013: won the Harold H. Greene & Joyce Hens Green National Security Law Moot Court Competition
  • 2013: won the National Religious Freedom Moot Court Competition
  • 2012: won the UCLA Cybercrimes Moot Court, Best Oralist and Best Brief
  • 2011: won the Gujarat National Law University International Moot Court Competition in India, Overall and for Best Oralist
  • 2011: won the Harold H. Greene & Joyce Hens Green National Security Law Moot Court Competition
  • 2011: won the KK Luthra Memorial Moot Court Competition at the University of Delhi, India
  • 2010: won the World Championship of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition in Prague, Czech Republic
  • 2010: won the Gujarat National Law University International Law Moot Court Competition in India, Overall and for Best Oralist
  • 2010: won the North American Championship of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition
  • 2008: won first and third place in the Scribes Brief Writing Competition
  • 2008: won the Regional Giles Sutherland Rich Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition
  • 2007: won the World Championship of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition in Hyderabad, India
  • 2006: won the National Native American Law Students Association Moot Court Competition in Seattle, Washington and recognized as best brief and second best oral advocate
  • 2006: won the Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition in Washington, DC at the Court of Appeals for the Armed Services and awarded top oralist for the final round
  • 2005: won the World Championship of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition in Fukuoka, Japan
  • 2005: won the National Center for Animal Law Moot Court Competition at Harvard Law School and selected as best oralist
  • 2003: won the Thomas Tang Regional in Nashville, Tennessee
  • 2022: won the Manfred Lachs Space Law North American Regional Moot Court Competition and Best Oral Advocate
  • 2021: won the American Bar Association's Region 2 National Appellate Advocacy Competition
  • 2021: won the Manfred Lachs Space Law North American Regional Moot Court Competition and Best Oral Advocate
  • 2021: won the DC Cup Moot Court Competition as well as Best Brief and Best Oral Advocate
  • 2021: won the 27th Annual National Telecommunications and Technology Moot Court Competition as well as awarded Best Brief and Best Overall Advocate
  • 2020: won the Emory Civil Rights and Liberties Moot Court Competition as well as Best Oral Advocate in the Finals, Best Brief Top 10, and Best Oral Advocate Top 10
  • 2020: won the Giles Rich Intellectual Property National Moot Court Competition as well as the Southeast Regional where they were also selected to have Best Brief
  • 2020: won the 26th Annual National Telecommunications Moot Court Competition in Washington, DC
  • 2019: won the Giles Rich Intellectual Property National Moot Court Competition & Best Brief in Washington, DC
  • 2019: won the 25th Annual National Telecommunications Moot Court Competition in Washington, DC
  • 2018: won the 24th Annual National Telecommunications Moot Court Competition in Washington, DC
  • 2017: won the KK Luthra Memorial Moot Court Competition at the University of Delhi, India and selected as Best Oral Advocate
  • 2017: won the DC Cup Moot Court Competition as well as Best Brief
  • 2016: won the 2016 Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Moot Court National Championship and also selected as Best Oralist 
  • 2016: won the DC Cup Moot Court Competition as well as Best Brief and Best Oral Advocate
  • 2015: won the National Moot Court Competition sponsored by the New York City Bar Association in New York, NY
  • 2014: won Region Three of the National Moot Court Competition sponsored by the New York City Bar Association
  • 2014: won the University of North Carolina's 37th Annual J. Braxton Craven, Jr. Memorial Moot Court Competition and selected as Best Oralist
  • 2014: won the ABA Forum on Communications Law's 6th Annual First Amendment & Media Law Diversity Moot Court in Aventura, Florida and recognized as best brief
  • 2014: won the Charleston School of Law National Moot Court Competition in South Carolina and recognized as best oralist for the championship round
  • 2013: won the Harold H. Greene & Joyce Hens Green National Security Law Moot Court Competition
  • 2013: won the National Religious Freedom Moot Court Competition
  • 2012: won the UCLA Cybercrimes Moot Court, Best Oralist and Best Brief
  • 2011: won the Gujarat National Law University International Moot Court Competition in India, Overall and for Best Oralist
  • 2011: won the Harold H. Greene & Joyce Hens Green National Security Law Moot Court Competition
  • 2011: won the KK Luthra Memorial Moot Court Competition at the University of Delhi, India
  • 2010: won the World Championship of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition in Prague, Czech Republic
  • 2010: won the Gujarat National Law University International Law Moot Court Competition in India, Overall and for Best Oralist
  • 2010: won the North American Championship of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition
  • 2008: won first and third place in the Scribes Brief Writing Competition
  • 2008: won the Regional Giles Sutherland Rich Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition
  • 2007: won the World Championship of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition in Hyderabad, India
  • 2006: won the National Native American Law Students Association Moot Court Competition in Seattle, Washington and recognized as best brief and second best oral advocate
  • 2006: won the Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition in Washington, DC at the Court of Appeals for the Armed Services and awarded top oralist for the final round
  • 2005: won the World Championship of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition in Fukuoka, Japan
  • 2005: won the National Center for Animal Law Moot Court Competition at Harvard Law School and selected as best oralist
  • 2003: won the Thomas Tang Regional in Nashville, Tennessee

 

Academic Programs

Student arguing a Government Contracts Case in front of a panel of judges
 

 

 

Government Contracts Program 

Dentons "Gilbert A. Cuneo" Government Contracts (spring, internal, one credit class only open to upper-level students, various awards for the best students). Each student has the opportunity to argue both sides of a government contracts case in front of experienced practitioners, from the private bar and government, as well as sitting judges from the various Boards of Contract Appeals and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. The final round is argued at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. The competition problem and best briefs are published each year in the Public Contract Law Journal.  


External Competitions


The George Washington University Law School hosts several interscholastic competitions that are open to all ABA-approved law schools. Learn more about these competitions below.

National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition
Baylor won the 2016 National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition.
 

 

National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition 

Fall Competition | Washington, DC

The National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition is the only veterans law competition in the United States. It is sponsored by the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Bar Association, and the George Washington University Law School. Round are held at GW Law and the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

The National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition accepts up to two teams of two students from each ABA-approved law school that participates.

 

More Information on the National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition


Alberto Estrella with the winners of the 2017 Estrella Trial Advocacy Competition.
 

 

Estrella Trial Advocacy Competition

Spring Competition | San Juan, Puerto Rico

The Estrella Trial Advocacy Competition is open to 14 law schools and is sponsored by the Law firm of Estrella, LLC and the George Washington University Law School. It is held annually in court houses of beautiful San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Estrella Trial Advocacy Competition accepts one team of four students from each ABA-approved law school that participates. 


Contact Us

Amy Coney Barrett and Dean Johnson
The Hon. Amy Coney Barrett, pictured with Dean David Johnson, presided over the finals of the 2020 Van Vleck Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition, the same year she joined the US Supreme Court.
 

 

 

David M. Johnson 

Assistant Dean for Pro Bono & Advocacy Programs
[email protected]
202.994.4539, STU207

Dean David Johnson is primarily responsible for oversight of advocacy competitions at GW Law, be they alternative dispute resolution (ADR, such as arbitration), mock trial (trial practice), or moot court (appellate practice). If you have any questions, please contact Dean Johnson.