Founded in 1993, TUMCA is the nation's largest moot court association, and holds the Southwestern Regional Championships from which teams qualify to compete in the national moot court championship tournament (ACMA).
Moot court is a competition in which undergraduates engage in simulated legal argument before a hypothetical appellate court reviewing a fictitious case. Students draw on a limited number of actual appellate court decisions to support their arguments. As the undergraduate moot court handbook, How to Please the Court , notes "In moot court, there is no trial. . . In a moot court, someone or something is protesting the validity of a trial court decision."
Students participating in moot court competition learn to argue about and interpret the law. TUMCA's goal is to provide opportunities for undergraduates to test their research skills, knowledge of the law and forensic abilities in a competitive environment.
Moot court provides perhaps our best pedagogical tool in preparing undergraduates for law school, graduate school, or the many career opportunities offered by governments and interest groups. |
