Wherefore Moot Court?

Moot court competitions are considered by some law students, and perhaps some law professors, mainly as a “résumé booster.” But as this Essay argues, legal employers are right to emphasize such qualifications in their hiring decisions, because moot court is among the most valuable experiences that a law student can have in terms of her professional development. The process of arguing, and preparing to argue, a hypothetical case in front of real-life judges and lawyers presents students with an opportunity to practice several skills that are too often neglected in classical law school education but which are essential to success in litigation. This Essay offers an examination of the benefits of moot court, while also offering some basic insights as to how to instruct students to become better appellate advocates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]