Our Interview With Michael H. Walsh, President and Member, Board of Directors of the American Moot Court Association

By the Juris Education Interview Team

Michael H. Walsh is the President and Member, Board of Directors of the American Moot Court Association.

1. What are some of the biggest takeaways or real-world benefits that students gain from participating in a moot court competition?

Students gain valuable skills that will aid them in law school, in graduate school, as lawyers, and in any other walk of life after they take part in moot court. More specifically, they learn how to read cases and use them to build and support arguments, skills they will need in law school and as a lawyer. But that skill also translates to any career where reading, synthesizing, and using complex information is required. They also learn communication skills; that is, they learn how to think on their feet and to communicate ideas and concepts. Moot court requires students to answer questions challenging their arguments – learning how to answer questions and to do so while advancing an argument or position is a valuable communication skill.

2. What's the most challenging and the most rewarding aspect of participating in such a competition?

The most challenging aspect of moot court is answering questions.  Doing so, and doing so effectively, is really an art.  Answering questions requires knowledge of the material, quick thinking, and the ability to deliver an answer that is responsive to the question in a way that advances your argument is challenging.

The most rewarding aspect of participating in mock trial (aside from winning ballots) is the feeling that you have succeeded under pressure.  Mastering the material and being able to respond to questions effectively provides students with a feeling of success and knowledge that, when pressed, they can deliver.

3. How would you say moot court helps students feel prepared for a career in law?

Moot court prepares students for a career in law more than any other undergraduate activity in which they can participate. Learning how to read cases, distill their holdings, and use them to build and support arguments is the essence of law school. Participating in moot court prepares students for law school in that they learn “how to think like a lawyer,” and for a career in any avenue of law (litigation and transactional) because they will learn what they need to know to help their clients.

4. What advice would you give to those who are trying to find the right moot court competition for them?

If the student is an undergraduate, there really is only one answer to this question – join your school’s moot court team, and if your school does not have a team, contact the American Moot Court Association (“AMCA”) and ask for assistance from AMCA in forming a team. AMCA is the only undergraduate moot court program, and participating in our oral advocacy and brief writing competitions is the best avenue for moot court participation.

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