report from Lone Star

The Lone Star Legal Research & Writing Conference started on Friday afternoon with a presentation from Texas Tech's Director of Advocacy Programs, Rob Sherwin.  Rob described his program as follows:

Moot court is among the oldest of institutions in American legal education. But how effective is it as a teaching tool? Is it a relevant precursor to appellate (or even litigation) practice?  This discussion will focus on the differences—which may not be as pronounced as some think—between moot court (both brief writing and oral argument) and the practice of law  and how those differences may be minimized to enhance the educational experience.

Rob's presentation set out five areas in which some esteemed commentators allege that moot court differs so from law practice that its value should be questioned--everything from the weighted importance of brief v. oral argument to the full v. edited record to the purpose of oral argument in each setting.

(njs)