Law School Myth Busters: Moot Court Board
Myth: The Moot Court Board is the end-all be-all of skills boards.
"Billbo, listen up. Grades are the only thing that matter, other than journals and moot court-and I'm on both-if you can't do that maybe God wants you to work at a small firm. Or in the Midwest." Aside from the Midwest crack, what the Arrogant Dean's Fellow was saying in this line from this year's Law Revue show is that grades, journal and moot court are the only things that matter in law school. This line of thinking wasn't just a random stroke of genius by one of the Law Revue writers; it's another one of those popular law school myths. This week, the focus is on moot court. Is it really the end-all be-all of skills boards?
In case you've been living under a rock, GW has three skills boards: Mock Trial, Moot Court, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). All three boards seek to enhance lawyering skills by giving students the opportunity to participate in simulated versions of trials, oral arguments and whatever ADR involves. GW students have participated in internal and external competitions on all three boards and have excelled. So what makes moot court so special? Ok, there is the slight chance that you'll be one of four finalists out of 200 competitors that make it to the final round and get the opportunity to be hammered with questions by a Supreme Court Justice. And many employers do recognize the title "Moot Court" on a resume, but does that really mean that being on the Moot Court Board is all you need in law school? Is it really the difference-maker when it comes to job interviews and internships?
Not to get too newsy with this, but let's check out some statistics. First off, GW Law has about 2,000 students enrolled. Of those 2,000 students, 125 are on the Moot Court Board. That's like 7%. 7% of the student body is on the Moot Court Board. Additionally, for the class of 2007, the CDO boasts that 99% of graduates found a job in some area. So, assuming that the 2007 numbers were similar to the 2009 numbers mentioned above, even though only 7% of the student body was on Moot Court, 99% of them (including the 93% of students who were non-mooters) got jobs. But think about it, in this economy, it's tough for everyone, mooters and non-mooters alike to find a job. And if that doesn't convince you, think about this: only 8 of the top 20 law schools even have a Moot Court Board. True story.
As much fun as writing 30-page briefs is and staying at school until 10pm on a Saturday night, being beaten up by judges with never-ending questions with no right answer can be, being on Moot Court isn't everything. It may help you get an extra interview during FRP, but in the end, there really is no magical skills board resume line that will instantly land you a job. Yes, moot court competitions can be fun and exciting for some, but being on the Moot Court Board isn't all there is to law school. And it's definitely not the only worthwhile skills board out there. This myth is:
