Moot Court & Mock Trial
SIU Simmons Law School is highly regarded for our excellent moot court and trial advocacy programs. All first-year students participate in an oral advocacy intra-school competition as part of their Lawyering Skills class. Second and third-year students can compete nationally as either members of the Moot Court Board.
Appellate Advocacy
After the first year, students may compete for selection to the SIU Simmons Law Moot Court Board. Moot Court Board members participate in mock Supreme Court arguments by writing briefs and making oral arguments before panels of attorneys and judges. To become members of the Moot Court Board, students first participate in a multi-round Intramural Moot Court Competition during the fall of their second year. Of these students, several are selected to represent the school in national moot court competitions, beginning in the spring of their second year and continuing into their third year. Southern Illinois’ success in national competitions is notable.
Trial Advocacy
Students interested in trial rather than appellate argument may try out in their second year for membership in the Trial Advocacy Division of the Moot Court Board. Students are selected after an intramural tryout, and compete in their third year after completion of courses in evidence and trial advocacy.
National Health Law Moot Court Competition
Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School hosts the National Health Law Moot Court Competition, along with supporting sponsors the American College of Legal Medicine and the American Health Law Association. The Competition is held annually at Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School in Carbondale. The two-day event is one of the premier moot court experiences in the nation and attracts teams representing law schools from throughout the country.
Faculty Advisors
- Name
- Kaitlyn Poirier
- Title
- Assistant Professor of Law
- Name
- Carly Toepke
- Title
- Assistant Professor of Law
Simmons Law Moot Court Board
- Name
- Jenna Zumbahlen
- Title
- Chief Justice
- Name
- Jarrick Honn
- Title
- Judge Coordinator
- Name
- Darian Morgan
- Title
- Associate Justice
- Name
- Olivia Miller
- Title
- Teams Coordinator
- Name
- Sydney Packard
- Title
- Brief Writing Justice
- Name
- Audrey Stallings
- Title
- Logistics Coordinator
Advocacy
Appellate Advocacy
After the first year, students may compete for selection to the SIU Simmons Law Moot Court Board. Moot Court Board members participate in mock Supreme Court arguments by writing briefs and making oral arguments before panels of attorneys and judges. To become members of the Moot Court Board, students first participate in a multi-round Intramural Moot Court Competition during the fall of their second year. From these students, several are selected to represent the school in national moot court competitions, beginning in the spring of their second year and continuing into their third year. Southern Illinois’ success in national competitions is notable.
- Intramural Competition: Early in the fall semester, second year students may participate in the SIU Intramural Moot Court Competition. In teams of two, the students write a brief and argue a challenging problem of federal law. Most years, the Intramural Competition will use the problem written for the National Health Law Moot Court Competition, which SIU hosts in November. Members of the Moot Court Board are selected from the students who participate in the Intramural Competition.
- National Competitions: The Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School has an active and respected program for students interested in moot court competitions. Moot Court Board members frequently receive award recognition for their oral advocacy and brief-writing skills.
- National Health Law Moot Court Competition: For thirty years, the Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School and the American College of Legal Medicine have sponsored the National Health Law Moot Court Competition. In 2021, the Competition welcomed the American Health Lawyers Association as a new sponsor. Students participating in the competition come from all over the United States to argue issues of cutting edge health law and policy, The Moot Court Board members assist in running the Competition.
Trial Advocacy
Students in their second and third year of law school are eligible to participate in the Mock Trial Program. Selection occurs through a tryout process. Participants are selected by the faculty advisor with the advice of the Mock Trial Board. Students participate in at least one interschool competition per semester. They also administer intraschool competitions, such as the Opening Statement Competition or Closing Argument Competition. All team members serve as mentors and trainers to students who are interested in trying out for the team the next year. All team members participate in administrative and training tasks. Enrollment in the Advanced Mock Trial course and program is capped at eight students per year. Each student receives two credit hours per semester, for a maximum of six credit hours.
In recent years, SIU Simmons Law students have competed in many locations, including Chicago, San Francisco, Sacramento, Santa Monica, Buffalo, Louisville, St. Louis, Kansas City, Champaign, DeKalb, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.