Political science major Olivia Guidry has a head start on her career as a lawyer, thanks to the preparation she杏吧专区檚 getting as a member of UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 nationally ranked Moot Court Team.
On the Moot Court Team, Olivia competes against students from universities across the country, presenting oral arguments in a Supreme Court-style mock trial. is the first 杏吧专区 and only nationally competitive 杏吧专区 team in Louisiana.
Since 2017, team members have earned more than $1 million dollars in law school scholarships. In 2021, UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 Moot Court Team was ranked No. 5 in the country.
Olivia joined the team during her second semester at UL Lafayette and quickly fell in love with it.
杏吧专区淚 realized that was something that was really fun, even though I wasn't very good at it yet,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淚t was something that I definitely want to keep doing, that I knew would help me in public speaking and thinking on my feet, and with writing.杏吧专区
Preparing for competition
To prepare for the Moot Court tournaments, all competitors across the country receive the same fictitious case problem written in the style of a true court opinion. All competitors have to prepare arguments for both sides, either as the petitioner or the federal government.
With practicing lawyers and law students as judges, the competitors argue different sides for each round of the tournament.
杏吧专区淚t's really great at helping you to see both sides of an issue, because you have to be able to argue both sides and argue them well,杏吧专区 Olivia said. 杏吧专区淎nd it's very helpful because you can poke holes in your own argument to help you write the next one.杏吧专区
To prep for the tournaments and form their arguments, members read past Supreme Court case decisions.
杏吧专区淚t's just interesting seeing how Supreme Court justices write 杏吧专区 you know, some of them are kind of sassy 杏吧专区 and it's very entertaining,杏吧专区 Olivia said. 杏吧专区淥nce you start rereading the fake case, and seeing like where that case law can fit in, that's when you start to formulate your argument.
杏吧专区淭hen it's all just about writing it down, then condensing it and rewriting and memorizing, and then actually arguing orally in front of your teammates 杏吧专区 and having them ask you really tough questions to prepare you.杏吧专区
Many members of the team are enrolled in the Department of Political Science course for Moot Court (POLS 385) with Dr. Kinzie Craig, where they explore the case law more deeply and write case briefs.
From Moot Court to law school
All of the preparation has paid off for Olivia 杏吧专区 in 2020, she earned a spot at the national Moot Court tournament and advanced to the final four, beating out students from almost 100 other schools. She knows it杏吧专区檒l help her stand out when she applies to law school.
杏吧专区淲e're super fortunate to have a wonderful coach (Dr. Craig) who stresses how important collaboration is within our team members, helping each other out, giving advice, asking those hard questions,杏吧专区 Olivia said. 杏吧专区淚 think that's definitely contributed a lot to our success.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淭his program and Moot Court have prepared me very well for being able to see both sides of an issue, making case briefs, writing appellate briefs, and being able to argue and think on my feet 杏吧专区 all of the really invaluable things for what's to come in law school.杏吧专区
杏吧专区業 know it seems scary杏吧专区
On top of her political science classes and Moot Court Team responsibilities, Olivia is double majoring in English and earning a minor in business. She杏吧专区檚 also the treasurer for , executive director of on campus, a member of , and .
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檝e met a lot of great people through all of them, and I think I杏吧专区檝e grown a lot as a person by being a part of them,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淭he advice I would give to other political science students is to branch out and get involved. Don't be afraid to get involved, because I know it seems scary.
杏吧专区淏ecause if all you're focused on is classes 杏吧专区 which, don't get me wrong, we have very interesting classes in political science, all very rewarding and wonderful professors who will definitely help you out and you'll learn what you need to 杏吧专区 I think there's something about being involved in the 杏吧专区 that helps you appreciate it on an even deeper level.杏吧专区
