MSU Law Moot Court Team Advances to National Finals

The Michigan State University College of Law appellate moot court team consisting of third-year students Calvin Boyd (team captain), Ashley Byers, and Tyler Olney qualified for the finals of the National Moot Court Competition (NMCC) after successfully competing in the Regional Competition in Columbus, Ohio on November 15-16, 2014.

The team had the second best brief in the region and was a finalist in the competition. Tyler Olney was named the best oralist in the competition and received a silver bowl trophy in recognition of his success. A second team consisting of third-year students Angeles Meneses (team captain), Jeanette Lugo, and Benjamin Dilley had an undefeated record until the semi-finals, where the two MSU Law teams faced the unfortunate position of having to compete head-to-head. The team of Boyd/Byers/Olney advanced to the finals by a small margin. The teams were coached by local attorney and MSU Moot Court Board alumni Leigh Hansmann and faculty advisor Jennifer Copland.

Since 1950, the NMCC has emerged as a prestigious competition sponsored by the New York City Bar and the American College of Trial Lawyers. Every year, over 150 law schools compete in the regional rounds throughout the United States. The winners from each region advance to the final rounds held at the New York City Bar in February, 2014. The Michigan State Law team was one of just two teams to advance out of the regional competition, and will be one of just 26 teams to compete in the National Finals in February.

“It’s no surprise that we’re in the top 26,” Professor Copland remarked. “Michigan State College of Law is consistently finishing in the top ranked teams, and our Moot Court Board is nationally recognized.”

Indeed, the MSU Law team of Ashley Chrysler and Crystal Bultje was a semi-finalist at the Burton D. Wechsler First Amendment competition in Washington D.C. in October. The Moot Court Board hopes to continue its winning tradition next semester when Board members will compete at Vanderbilt University (First Amendment law), Brooklyn University (evidence), Elon University (constitutional law), and the regionals of the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition.

The NMCC teams would like to extend their gratitude to all of the MSU Law professors who judged practice rounds and helped them prepare for the regional competition.

Photo (left to right): Professor Jennifer Copland (coach), Jeanette Lugo, Benjamin Dilley, Angeles Meneses, Calvin Boyd, Ashley Byers, Tyler Olney, Leigh Hansmann (coach)