LU Ranks in top 25 in the American Moot Court Association Oral Advocacy for 2021

Moot Court Graphic

Lamar University students have participated in the AMCA tournaments where students work in teams to construct legal arguments to present to judges. Teams will advance to higher rounds based on their performance.

“Since beginning a program in 2016, LU has had a history of doing well in regional competitions,” says Craig Tahaney, instructor of political science and Lamar University Moot Court program director. “Students worked extremely hard constructing their arguments and we even held virtual scrimmages with other universities.”

History was made on October 17, 2020, when LU students Ali Hamza and Katey McCall advanced to the championship round at the University of Texas at Dallas Invitational Moot Court Tournament. The two students also ranked as top ten advocates of the tournament.

Hamza and McCall went on to compete at the American Moot Court Association National Tournament in January of 2021. The results of that tournament earned Lamar University its ranking as 24th in the top 25 programs for Oral Advocacy of 2021. Programs are ranked by the number of ballots earned at the AMCA National Tournament.

Other notable schools ranked near LU in the top 25 are Yale University at 22nd, Duke University at 21st, and Georgetown University at 25th.

“Students benefit from Moot Court because they gain the ability to construct and articulate well-reasoned arguments in front of an audience,” says Tahaney. “We have many talented students and I firmly believe that this is just the beginning of a long, winning tradition in undergraduate moot court.”

Congratulations to the determined and hardworking students who continue making history at LU in more ways than one.