The ABA Law Student Division National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC) emphasizes the development of oral advocacy skills through a realistic appellate advocacy experience. Competitors participate in a hypothetical appeal to the United States Supreme Court. The competition involves writing a brief as either respondent or petitioner and then arguing the case in front of the mock court.
Coach / Faculty Contact
Professor Susie Salmon
Phone: (520) 621-8429
salmon@email.arizona.edu
Prerequisites
- Must be 3L in good academic standing
- Advanced Legal Writing
- Fegtly 2L Moot Court Competition
Team Selection
The College of Law fields two teams for this competition. Team members are selected the previous spring during the Fegtly 2L Moot Court Competition. The six students with the highest combined brief and oral argument scores after the semi-final round of the competition become members of the two teams.
Competition Timeline
(Check the competition website for exact dates.)
- Entry Deadline: early November
- Problem Distributed: early November
- Electronic Briefs Due: early January
- Regional Competition Dates: over three weekends in late February and early March
- National Finals (Chicago): early April
Academic Credit
Three units (one unit in fall; two in spring)
Meetings
Periodic meetings during fall semester; oral-argument practices two to three times weekly (including possible weekend sessions) during spring semester leading up to regional competition.
Expenses
The College of Law pays reasonable travel expenses for ABA NAAC participants to attend the regional round of the competition. Please consult Student Reimbursement Checklist for guidelines on required documentation, expense limitations, and procedures for reimbursement.