SPECIAL NOTE:  HISTORY 4101 - MOOT COURT IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR REGISTRATION ON MYMAV. THE COURSE WILL MEET ON TUESDAY AFTERNOONS, AND THERE ARE TWENTY ENROLLMENT SLOTS. STUDENTS ENROLLED IN HISTORY 4101 WILL RECEIVE PRIORITY ON PRE-LAW CENTER-SUPPORTED TRIPS TO SCRIMMAGES AND COMPETITIONS.

 Moot Court research and argument allows students to develop skills in courtroom advocacy. For students aiming to become litigators, prosecutors, or defense attorneys, this provides great practice. Many law schools (for example Texas Tech School of Law) place special emphasis on Moot Court.

For decades, the UT Arlington Moot Court team has participated successfully in regional, national, and international contests — often besting law school teams. Our legendary Moot Court Director, Dr. Charles Knerr, passed away in 2011. Interim Moot Court Faculty Advisor Dr. Joseph Ignagni, of the Department of Political Science, assisted the team in 2011-2012.

Read about the 2012 UT Arlington team's experience in Austria.

The team's current advisor is Dr. Oliver Bateman. Dr. Bateman joined the UT-Arlington faculty after completing his Ph.D. in legal history at the University of Pittsburgh. He also holds a J.D. from Valparaiso University School of Law, and is a specialist in law and education, Atlantic history, and comparative law. Along with volunteer attorneys from local corporations and law firms, Dr. Bateman assists Moot Court team members as they research cases, write briefs, and practice oral arguments for Moot Court contests.  If you're interested in joining the team, please e-mail Dr. Bateman at oliver.bateman@uta.edu or team president Bhavik Patel at bhavikvpatel@mavs.uta.edu.   

In October, two teams from UTA (consisting entirely of first-time Moot Court participants) competed in a standalone event at the South Texas College of Law. Jaclyn Sugg and Bhavik Patel advanced to the Round of 16, where they lost by a narrow margin to a team from Texas Christian University. Sugg was named one of the "top orators" at the event, with Patel, Danielle Garcia, and David Marrufo also turning in strong performances.   Along with new members Carolyn Ruiz and Davinder Jassal, Marrufo and Patel participated in a nationals qualifying meet at Texas Tech School of Law that took place in mid-November.  Marrufo and Patel bettered their individual scores from the South Texas meet, and Ruiz and Jassal advanced to the Round of 16.  Jassal, Patel, and first-time participants Mark Cantrell, Andre Raymond, Trae'Vorris Canady and Jacob Surratt completed the Moot Court season with a scrimmage at Texas Wesleyan University.

The spring 2013 UTA Moot Court team (left to right): Jacob Surratt, Trae'Vorris Canady, Mark Cantrell, Andre Raymond, and faculty advisor Dr. Oliver Lee Bateman.

Davinder Jassal (left) and Andre Raymond competed together at the Texas Wesleyan School of Law's spring 2013 scrimmage.

Trae'Vorris Canady (left) and Mark Cantrell joined the Moot Court team in spring 2013.

Jaclyn Sugg (left) was named one of the "top orators" at the South Texas College of Law's recent Undergraduate Moot Court competition.  Noted Texas trial attorney, UTA alumnus, and American Collegiate Moot Court Association co-founder Andrew Sommerman is on the far right. 

Bhavik Patel and Jaclyn Sugg advanced to the Round of 16 at the South Texas College of Law Moot Court Competition, where they narrowly lost to a team from Texas Christian University. 

Davinder Jassal, Carolyn Ruiz, Bhavik Patel, and David Marrufo represented UTA at the Texas Tech School of Law's undergraduate moot court competition.  Ruiz and Jassal advanced to the Round of 16, and Patel and Marrufo bettered their individual scores from the earlier South Texas meet.