How Important Is Moot Court? Forum

[dreamcatcher]

International Moot Court tryouts are this week. I have a genuine interest in international law, but I'm already on a law journal anyway. I hate to make the decision purely about what is going to get me ahead, but I don't particularly feel like expending the energy, not for the tryout nor for being on the team itself, though if I were on it I would give it 100%. At the same time I feel like you shouldn't simply pass up an opportunity, right?

If you already have a law journal, is the benefit of moot court only marginal, or would it still add substantially to a resume?

[macattaq]

I would make the guess, although my experience is rather limited, that any journal other than Law Review doesn't count for much in the application process. Moot Court and/or Moot Court Board on the other hand, will help you give a boost that is similar to LR when you apply. This is how I understand it to be, although I could be quite wrong. If this is true though, then you may as well do MC. Hopefully, people with more experience can provide some insight into this.

[DelDad]

I don't think that's completely accurate, macattaq, although doing very well/winning the moot court competition may provide more of a boost. (I've done both moot court and a secondary journal, and been through recruiting after having done so.)

From (the limited) feedback I got regarding the issue, moot court and the journal work seemed roughly equivalent in my interviewers' eyes, althoughI did get the comment "you did both in one year - that must have been rough" or something like it a couple times.

Law review would be above both in terms of importance.

[LawandOrder]

Its importance is moot.

[edmoser]

I have to agree with DelDad... moot court and a secondary journal are basically equivalents. One may have a slight edge over the other depending on how well known the journal is and whether you win moot court competitions, but it's pretty negligible.

[SteelReserve]

If you're not on LR, I would def go ahead and do the moot court to beef up your credentials.

[lawlover829]

I don't think that's completely accurate, macattaq, although doing very well/winning the moot court competition may provide more of a boost. (I've done both moot court and a secondary journal, and been through recruiting after having done so.)

From (the limited) feedback I got regarding the issue, moot court and the journal work seemed roughly equivalent in my interviewers' eyes, althoughI did get the comment "you did both in one year - that must have been rough" or something like it a couple times.

Law review would be above both in terms of importance.

+1

[Mark71121]

law review >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> moot ct./2nd jrnal

[SteelReserve]

I just wanted to clarify and emphasize Mark71121's point:

Law Review >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>moot ct/jrnl

[steve_nash]

not very. if you want to clerk, you really should do a journal.

[dreamcatcher]

Not doing moot court. The same amount and quality of work is involved in the law journal as the law review. I'm not sure why law review would be deemed leagues beyond the journal.

I'm looking forward to being an attorney, but the "prestige-whoring" of the legal profession gets kind of obnoxious.

[SteelReserve]

I'm looking forward to being an attorney, but the "prestige-whoring" of the legal profession gets kind of obnoxious.

It does indeed, it does indeed.

[ks2pa]

law review >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> moot ct./2nd jrnal

I am on the MCB at my school (and not LR) and I agree completely. LR is much more prestigious.