General Outline of a Moot Court Argument

INTRO May it please the court, my name is _____ and I represent the Petitioner/Respondent __(name)___. [REBUTTAL REQUEST & PROCEDURAL BLURB (for Petitioner ON !)" #ith the court$s permission, I %ould li&e to reser'e ( minutes for re)uttal. *han& you. *his case is on appeal from the +istrict/,ircuit ,ourt (name of court). *he +istrict/,ircuit ,ourt denied Petitioner$s re-uest for _____, holdin. _____. ROADMAP !our honors, _______ is a 'iolation of international la% and %e as& that you ________ for (the follo%in.) t%o/three reasons/ 0. 1irst, [su)stanti'e le.al ar.ument 2 stron.est point" (. 3econd [su)stanti'e le.al ar.ument" 4. 5nd *hird, as a matter of pu)lic policy OR as pu)lic policy dictates, [policy ar.ument" ARGUMENT 0. #ith respect to the first point your honors . . . OR 1irst, . . . CONCLUSION 3ince [first point", [second point", and [third point", Petitioner/Respondent respectfully re-uests that this ,ourt finds ____ a 'iolation of international la%. *han& you. [REBUTTAL (for Petitioner ON !)" Respondent made one/t%o point(s) that I %ould li&e to address. (1irst) Respondent stated that . . . 6o%e'er, . . . OR Respondent contends that _____. 6o%e'er, . . . MISCELLANEOUS SUGGESTIONS 7 1or Re)uttal/ o 5ttac& misstatements and .lossed7o'er %ea&nesses. o 5ddress concerns of the court. o One to t%o points 2 most important point first. 7 If you o)'iously and/or materially misspea&, say 8rather, ____9 OR 8pardon me your honors, %hat I mean to say is ____9 and correct yourself. 7 If you are really hard7pressed for a transition, say, 8%hich )rin.s me to my second/third point9 and find a %ay to fit %hat you %ere tal&in. a)out into that point. 7 If you are .oin. to -uote a case, drop the case lan.ua.e 'er)atim into your outline and :NO# the pin cite. 7 If you aren$t sure %hat the ;ud.e is as&in., see& clarification. o *his can also )e used as a stall tactic if you are unsure ho% to ans%er the -uestion.

o 3ay somethin. li&e, 8!our honor, I %ant to ma&e certain I understand your -uestion, %ould you mind re.ardin.7phrasin.<9 DON T/ o 3ay, 8I don$t &no%9 in response to a -uestion. If you don$t &no% the ans%er, say somethin. more li&e, 8!our honor, I am una)le to fully ans%er your -uestion at this time. 6o%e'er, I %ould )e more than happy to su)mit a supplemental )rief on the issue/matter/case.9 o 3mile or lau.h or other%ise lose composure durin. ar.ument (unless the ;ud.es are smilin. and lau.hin. and you feel it %ould )e inappropriate to NO* smile and lau.h). o *a&e a pen up to the podium. DO/ o Outline your ar.ument= *ry to reduce your ar.ument to (74 pa.es. >se headin.s and su)7headin.. ?old, capitali@e, etc. for ease of reference. >se a manila folder to or.ani@e your ar.uments. *a&e nothin. )ut that manila folder up to the podium. o isten carefully to opposin. counsel$s ar.uments and the ;ud.es$ -uestions. *a&e 'er)atim notes of )oth. Auote and/or directly address if appropriate. o :no%, in ad'ance of the ar.ument, %hich points you are %illin. to concede (if any). o Preface your ans%ers %ith the follo%in./ !es your honor, ho%e'er . . . No your honor. ?e cautious usin. this one 2 it can appear less7than deferential. I (respectfully) disa.ree %ith your honor$s characteri@ation/construction of . . . o 6a'e your introduction, [procedural )lur)", roadmap, and conclusion memori@ed.