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    Mississippi College School of Law
   
 
  Nov 23, 2024
 
2014-2015 School of Law Academic Catalog 
    
2014-2015 School of Law Academic Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Student Activities



Law Review

The Mississippi College Law Review is a legal journal which publishes articles authored by jurists, professors and practitioners from throughout the country. The Review features a general interest issues, a Mississippi issue, and symposia on specific topics.

The Review is edited and published by law students who also write comments and casenotes on current legal developments. Selection for membership is made under published procedures involving academic standing and written submissions. Each year the Law Review presents awards for the best case note and comment.

Membership on the law review staff is recognized as both an honor of the highest academic achievement and a unique educational experience. Several members have gone on to clerk with the United States Courts of Appeals, the United States District Courts, and the Mississippi Supreme Court. Members have also been selected for membership in the American Inns of Court.

The Mississippi College Law Review is published three times yearly by the editorial board and staff of the Law Review. The Review is a member of the National Conference of Law Reviews.

Moot Court Program

The Moot Court Board is made up of third-year student members. Each fall semester, second-year students are selected for membership for the following year based on their performance as appellate advocates in the Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush Moot Court Competition (conducted in conjunction with Appellate Advocacy), writing ability, and other criteria. The Moot Court Board administers this competition under the supervision of a faculty member.

During the fall semester, Board members advise second-year students enrolled in Appellate Advocacy as they prepare for oral argument. Board members, as well as faculty and local judges and attorneys, administer the oral argument component of the course, which is sponsored by the law firm of Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush.

Appellate, Trial, and ADR Competitions

The law school participates in a number of national appellate moot court competitions. These competitions have recently included:
E. Earle Zehmer Workers’ Compensation Competition
National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition
Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Competition
ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition
Judge John R. Brown Admiralty Moot Court Competition
Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Competition
Chief Judge Conrad B. Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition
August A. Rendigs, Jr. National Products Liability Moot Court Competition
Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition
Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition (trademarks and unfair competition)
NYC Bar & American College of Trial Lawyers National Moot Court Competition
Ruby R. Vale Interschool Corporate Moot Court Competition
Robert F. Wagner National Labor & Employment Law Moot Court Competition
Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
Pace National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition
Elliot Cup Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition

Student teams, under the supervision of an attorney coach, research and prepare briefs and oral arguments for the competitions. Mississippi College teams have consistently distinguished themselves.

The law school also participates in arbitration, trial and pretrial practice competitions, which have included:
AAJ National Student Trial Advocacy Competition
ABA Labor and Employment Trial Advocacy Competition
Peter James Johnson National Civil Rights Trial Competition
Phi Alpha Delta Mock Trial Competition
Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition
Stetson National Pretrial Advocacy Competition
ABA Law Student Division/National Arbitration Forum Arbitration Competition
ABA Representation in Mediation Competition
Texas Young Lawyers Association National Trial Competition
American University Washington College of Law’s Capitol City Challenge Mock Trial Competition

The law school gratefully acknowledges the Mississippi Bankruptcy Competition for underwriting the Chief Judge Conrad Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition and the law firm of Langston & Langston for underwriting the law school’s intramural trial competition.

Lawyering Skills

Courses in pretrial and trial practice allow the students to gain training in the many skills required in litigation, including fact and legal theory development, interviewing, planning and carrying out of discovery, trial preparation and courtroom skills. Students in Trial Practice participate in simulated trials.

Among other courses aimed at developing practical skills are: the Appellate Advocacy programs, Counseling and Negotiation Seminar, Criminal Practice, Legal Drafting, Real Estate Practice, Child Advocacy Clinic in Youth Court, Child Advocacy Clinic in Chancery Court, Expert Witness Seminar, and Alternative Dispute Resolution.