Political science major Olivia Guidry has a head start on her career as a lawyer, thanks to the preparation she小蝌蚪APP檚 getting as a member of UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP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 小蝌蚪APP and only nationally competitive 小蝌蚪APP team in Louisiana.
Since 2017, team members have earned more than $1 million dollars in law school scholarships. In 2021, UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP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.
小蝌蚪APP淚 realized that was something that was really fun, even though I wasn't very good at it yet,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP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.小蝌蚪APP
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.
小蝌蚪APP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,小蝌蚪APP Olivia said. 小蝌蚪APP淎nd it's very helpful because you can poke holes in your own argument to help you write the next one.小蝌蚪APP
To prep for the tournaments and form their arguments, members read past Supreme Court case decisions.
小蝌蚪APP淚t's just interesting seeing how Supreme Court justices write 小蝌蚪APP you know, some of them are kind of sassy 小蝌蚪APP and it's very entertaining,小蝌蚪APP Olivia said. 小蝌蚪APP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.
小蝌蚪APP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 小蝌蚪APP and having them ask you really tough questions to prepare you.小蝌蚪APP
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 小蝌蚪APP 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小蝌蚪APP檒l help her stand out when she applies to law school.
小蝌蚪APP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,小蝌蚪APP Olivia said. 小蝌蚪APP淚 think that's definitely contributed a lot to our success.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP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 小蝌蚪APP all of the really invaluable things for what's to come in law school.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP業 know it seems scary小蝌蚪APP
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小蝌蚪APP檚 also the treasurer for , executive director of on campus, a member of , and .
小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檝e met a lot of great people through all of them, and I think I小蝌蚪APP檝e grown a lot as a person by being a part of them,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP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.
小蝌蚪APP淏ecause if all you're focused on is classes 小蝌蚪APP 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 小蝌蚪APP I think there's something about being involved in the 小蝌蚪APP that helps you appreciate it on an even deeper level.小蝌蚪APP
