MSU Law Students Show Off Moot Court Skills in Internal Competition
The moot court class of 2023 test drove their newly acquired skills in competition with each other during an internal moot court competition before judges and legal professionals acting as Supreme Court Justices. MSU College of Law students participating in the fall semester of the law college’s unique moot court course argued a fictional case themed to the sitcom, The Office.
Volunteer judges and legal professionals
During the three-day capstone event, 42 students, divided into 21 teams, went head-to-head, vying for recognition as Best Oralist, Best Brief, and Competition Champion. The competition featured three preliminary rounds; one virtual on Thursday, and two in-person on Friday. A Friday evening awards ceremony honored 10 Best Oralists and 5 Best Briefs and announced the eight teams advancing to the final round on Saturday.
LEGAL BATTLEFIELD DEFINED BY TWO CRITICAL ISSUES
First, the court delved into the complex question of whether Michael Scott's multifaceted job responsibilities exempted him under the “transportation worker” exemption in the Federal Arbitration Act. The heart of the matter revolved around defining Scott's role - was he a delivery driver and, thus, exempt from arbitration given that only a portion of his job involved deliveries?
The second issue thrust the participants into the intricacies of defamation and wiretapping claims by Scott against Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. The moot court participants navigated the nuances of determining whether these claims should be subjected to arbitration, adding an extra layer of complexity to the legal battleground.
The final showdown played out on Saturday as the eight teams brought their A-Game, demonstrating their legal brilliance and strategic prowess. Following the first round, four teams – B, C, D, N – fought it out in the semi-finals. The final courtroom drama pitted Respondents Olivia Tucker and Tom Gliniecki, Team C, representing Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, against Petitioners Emma Haiser and Nicholas Langenberg, Team B, defenders of the charismatic but enigmatic Michael Scott. The legal face-off culminated in Petitioners, Emma Haiser and Nicholas Langenburg, emerging victorious.
Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Sima Patel commended the participants, stating: “You all did a great job and will be a great benefit to the profession.” Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian Zahra also shared his congratulations. “It’s always hard to make a decision in cases like this, and you both did great. I love residing over moot courts as it gives me the ability to see what the future holds.”
Winning team member, Emma Haiser, highlighted how the moot court class experience prepares aspiring lawyers for the challenges of a real courtroom. “The Moot Court class helps me to prepare so that when I step into a courtroom, I won’t be completely at odds with what I need to do...we learn the skills we need to be the most successful advocates for our clients.”
“Moot Court is about skills development and becoming more comfortable with oral argument,” explained the Director of the Moot Court program, Professor Jennifer Copland. “They’re all going to have to either argue in a court or present in a boardroom one day.”
The three-day competition was supported by a legal community of nearly 100 volunteers, including MSU Law alumni. “We need 50-100 volunteer attorneys,” said David Sheaffer, Adjunct Professor and Assistant Moot Court Director. “We’ve got sitting judges, some litigators, some not.” The final round of the competition attracted prominent jurists Judge Zahra and Judge Patel along with alumna Ashley Chrysler (’15), American Bar Association national moot court champion and appellate litigation partner at Warner Norcross & Judd.
MSU Law’s Moot Court Team has a track record of success at the interscholastic level. Professors Copland and Sheaffer attribute this success to the moot court class and its capstone competition. “I don’t know of any other school in the country that does a full semester moot court class like MSU Law. It’s a big reason why our students do so well,” said Professor Copland.
Moot Court Class Competition Results
Oralist Awards
- Reem Albudoor
- Ben Anema
- Tessa Phillips
- Emma Haiser
- Olivia Tucker
- Amanda Igra
- Nichole Gertsen
- Nicholas Langenberg
- Anna Maxwell
- Eli Martinez
Brief Awards
- Team N: Ann Maxwell, Shelby Reed
- Team B-1: Nicholas Langenberg, writing individually
- Team C: Andrew Shaw, Olivia Tucker
- Team L: Nichole Gertsen, Noah Martin
- Team D: Reem Albudoor, Amanda Igra
Final Round Competitors
Team B: Emma Haiser, Nicholas Langenberg
Team C: Andrew Shaw, Olivia Tucker
Overall Competition Results
Champion
Team B: Emma Haiser, Nicholas Langenberg
Runner Up
Team C: Andrew Shaw/Tom Gliniecki, Olivia Tucker
Semi Finalists
Team D: Reem Albudoor, Amanda Igra
Team N: Anna Maxwell, Shelby Reed
Quarterfinalists
Team G: Hart Parr Dal Pra, Tessa Phillips
Team L: Nichole Gertsen, Noah Martin
Team P: Emily Eaton, Jalyn Slaughter
Team Q: Eli Martinez, Harsh Patel
Photo Gallery
Day 1: Noah Martin and Nichole Gertsen
Day 1: Olivia Tucker and Andrew Shaw
Day 1: Eli Martinez
Day 1: Ben Anema
Day 1: Emma Haiser and Nicholas Langenberg
Day 1: Tessa Phillips
Day 1: Reem Albudoor and Amanda Igra
Day 1: Anna Maxwell and Shelby Reed
Day 2: Final Round Judges (L-R) Alumna Ashley Chrysler (‘15), Justice Brian Zahra, Judge Sima Patel
Day 2: Emma Haiser
Day 2: Tom Gliniecki and Olivia Tucker
Day 2: (L-R) Tom Gliniecki, Olivia Tucker, Nicholas Langenberg
Front Row (L-R) Ms. Chrysler, Justice Zahra, Judge Patel; Back Row (L-R) Ms. Haiser, Mr. Langenberg, Ms. Tucker, Mr. Gliniecki
Contributors: MSU students, Mason Fielding and Andrew Miller-Thomas