Alternative Dispute Resolution Team

The Alternative Dispute Resolution Team (ADRT) is an ABA student Division Program dedicated to helping law students hone practical skills through competitions that focus on client counseling and methods of dispute resolution other than litigation. William & Mary ADRT members compete against each other to advance to the regional level in national competitions. In recent years, ADRT members have competed in the ABA Law Student Division Negotiation Competition, the ABA LASD Client Counseling Competition and the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Advocacy in Mediation Competition.

Moot Court Program

The Moot Court Program is one of the Law School's best opportunities for students to develop and refine both oral advocacy and brief writing skills. Team members participate in Moot Court tournaments, which require each team to research and write an appellate brief, then defend it before a panel of judges in an oral argument. Membership on Moot Court is an honor, and tryouts for the team are competitive.

Each year William & Mary's Moot Court Team sends its members to approximately ten inter-collegiate moot court tournaments around the nation. William & Mary's teams have enjoyed resounding success, most recently with the two 2004 Nationals teams making it to the semi-final and quarter-final regional rounds. The Team's competitors are well-known as talented oral advocates, and they have shown their writing skills by winning multiple "Best Brief" awards in recent years.

In addition to competing, the William & Mary Moot Court Team annually hosts the William B. Spong, Jr. Invitational Moot Court Tournament. In existence for over thirty-five years, the Spong Tournament focuses on current issues in constitutional law. Rounds are judged by panels of federal and state court judges. The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association is the tournament's co-sponsor, and its representatives also serve as judges for the tournament. Competitors at the Spong Tournament represent schools from across the United States.

»»  Moot Court website (will launch in a new window)

National Trial Team

The National Trial Team is a student-run organization whose purpose is to develop trial advocacy skills. The team's advisor is Jeffrey Breit, a trial attorney and past president of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.

Membership is competitive and available to all students who participate in the annual selection tournament held each fall. Team members are required to participate in a comprehensive development program. This program provides team members the opportunity to earn a total of six credits through enrollment in courses that are designed specifically for team members and taught by the team's advisor.

The team participates in several tournaments each semester and has earned local, regional and national recognition. Additionally, members of the team have been honored for individual performances during competitions (such as best overall advocate). In the past few years, the team has been invited to the national competition in the National Trial Competition, the Association of Trial Lawyers of Americas annual tournament, and was a semi-finalist at the Michigan State University National Trial Advocacy in Competition in 2005.