The Barristers' Council is a student-run organization that oversees the Appellate Advocacy, Trial Advocacy, and ADR Advocacy programs at Georgetown University Law Center. The following information is provided in order to answer some of the questions you may have about our organization. If you have a question that is not addressed below, please email us.

How do I join the Barristers' Council?

Georgetown Law students join the Barristers' Council by competing and advancing far enough in one of our school-wide Moot Court, Mock Trial, or ADR competitions. Generally, students who make it to the semi-finals of a competition are invited to join as advocates. Other high-placing students are offered positions as alternates.

Admission to the Barristers' Council is based entirely on competition results. A student's academic record is never a factor.

How do I become a member of an interscholastic Appellate Advocacy (Moot Court) team?

By participating and advancing far enough in either the Robert J. Beaudry Moot Court Competition (in Spring, for first-year JD students only) or the William E. Leahy Moot Court Competition (in Fall, for LLM & upper-class students only) you will be invited to join the Barristers' Council and will be placed on one of our interscholastic moot court teams.

How do I become a member of an interscholastic Trial Advocacy (Mock Trial) team?

By participating and advancing far enough in the William H. Greenhalgh Mock Trial Competition (in Spring, open to non-graduating JD students) you will be invited to join the Barristers' Council and will be placed on one of our interscholastic mock trial teams.

How do I become a member of an interscholastic ADR Advocacy (ADR) team?

By participating and advancing far enough in our school-wide ADR Negotiation Competition (in Spring, open to non-graduating JD students) you will be invited to join the Barristers' Council and will be placed on one of our interscholastic ADR teams.

When are these qualifying competitionis held?

Leahy is held each Fall and Greenhalgh, ADR Negotiation, and Beaudry are held in the Spring.  Please check out our Barristers' Council Calendar for the most up-to-date schedule information available.

What is the difference between Moot Court, Mock Trial, and ADR?

Moot court.         Moot court competitions involve appellate advocacy. Competitors write a brief and then argue their case before a panel of judges, who score the advocates based on their skills. As the participants progress into higher rounds, they argue both "on" and "off" their written brief. People who like writing and who prefer the conversational style used when responding to judges' questions might enjoy this type of competition. It is just like the oral advocacy exercise done in all first year Legal Research and Writing courses.

Mock trial.         Mock trial competitions involve trial advocacy. Competitors are lawyers in hypothetical cases held before judges and juries, who score the advocates based on their skills. The trials are essentially simulations of real-life litigation. Participants present evidence, examine witnesses, and give opening and closing statements. In addition, competitors are required to follow actual rules of court. If you enjoy good courtroom drama and like the captive audience of a jury, you may prefer this type of competition.

ADR.         Alternative Dispute Resolution competitions involve advocacy skills in negotiation, mediation, arbitration and client counseling settings. Competitors are attorneys or clients in hypothetical situations (usually disputes) who must balanace a strong result for their client, with ethical interest-based negotiation. A panel of observers scores the advocates based on their skills. Participants work either individually or in teams, and always against another student or team of students. Students who enjoy negotiating and are interested in the broader spectrum of dispute resolution processes may prefer this type of competition.