Order of the Barristers

The Order of Barristers is a national honorary organization. The purpose of the Order is to encourage oral advocacy and brief writing skills through effective law school appellate moot court and mock trial programs. The Order recognizes graduating law students who have excelled in moot court, mock trial, and dispute resolution activities in their respective law schools.

Selection is based upon points earned for activities including Moot Court participation, Moot Court Board membership, Dispute Resolution activities, Dispute Resolution Board membership, and certain law school courses. The top 10 point earners are nominated to the National Order of the Barristers.

The Order of the Barristers applications are normally available towards the end of the spring semester. The application period for 2008 has ended.

If you have any questions please see the FAQ below or contact the In-House Competition Chair.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Order of Barristers only for students who have won Moot Court and/or Dispute Resolution competitions?

No - Participation (either as a competitor, bailiff, witness, etc.) in these competitions will earn points. It doesn’t matter if you won. Students can also earn points for membership on either the Moot Court Board or Dispute Resolution Board and for taking certain advocacy classes (see the application for a complete list)

Can I get points for other advocacy classes not listed?

Possibly - On your application, list other classes you have taken that you believe would qualify. The scoring committee will look at the course description to see if it meets the advocacy criteria. Forensics is an example of a possible course that could qualify, but is not specifically listed.

Question: Can I get points for my Evidence class?

No - Evidence is a required course for all students (like Con Law and Legal Writing I & II).

Can I get points for an externship, Inn of Court, or a job I had while in law school?

No.

Can I submit my application by e-mail?

No - All applications must be submitted in hard copy - signed by the applicant. Applications must be received by the deadline. No exceptions.

Does my application have to be typed?

No - All it has to be is legible. Handwritten application forms are acceptable. The application is only used by the scoring committee to tally points. The application form is not submitted with the nominations – only the list of names.

Should I submit my resume or a cover letter with my application?

No - Only the application will be considered.

What if I am participating in a competition after the deadline?

You will not receive points for participation that hasn’t occurred by the April 11 deadline because all participation must be able to be verified. We cannot verify participation that has not yet occurred.

What if I don’t remember the exact date of a competition I participated in?

Provide as much information about the competition as you can. You may also check the "last modified" dates on any notes or computer documents you prepared in association with a particular competition to help refresh your memory. Consult old calendars or datebooks.