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Designing a Moot Court: What to Do, What Not to Do, andSuggestions for How to Do It

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2004

Lewis S. Ringel
Lewis S. Ringel
Affiliation:
California State University
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Extract

Educators often use role-playing exercises that involve problem basedlearning in their courses to improve their students' critical andanalytical skills, introduce them to new ways of thinking, increaseinteraction with their fellow students, and to enhance studentinterest in course lessons and materials (Greening 1998; Albanese 1993; Hensley 1993).A popular role playing simulation is moot court(Deardoff and Aliotta 2003; Guiliuzza 1991). Moot courts areacademic simulations of appellate advocacy that educate studentsabout the law and the judicial process. Students, acting as lawyersor judges, “try” a case before an appellate court.2 In addition toacting as lawyers or judges, students are assigned to serve as “lawclerks, reporters, or amicus brief writers” (Knerrand Sommerman 2001, 4). Moot court is anextremely fluid pedagogical tool which can be used for more thanlearning about the law or the judicial process. It has been used ina variety of disciplines including political science, media,history, journalism, sociology, art, economics, business, and thelife sciences to educate students about a variety of subjects suchas history, journalistic rights, anti-trust laws, or professionalethics (Carlson and Skaggs 2000; Dhooge1999; Bentley 1996).

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Type
The Teacher
Information
PS: Political Science & Politics , Volume 37 , Issue 3 , July 2004 , pp. 459 - 465
Copyright
© 2004 by the American Political Science Association

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