Moot Court Format Explained
The Moot Court round, speech by speech
| # | Speech | Side | Length | What it’s for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petitioner Advocate 1 | Petitioner | 10:00 | Builds the case and answers the other side |
| 2 | Petitioner Advocate 2 | Petitioner | 10:00 | Builds the case and answers the other side |
| 3 | Respondent Advocate 1 | Respondent | 10:00 | Builds the case and answers the other side |
| 4 | Respondent Advocate 2 | Respondent | 10:00 | Builds the case and answers the other side |
| 5 | Petitioner Rebuttal | Petitioner | 3:00 | Summarizes and weighs, no brand-new arguments |
| Speaking time | 43:00 | Plus 60:00 case prep | ||
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The rules that actually matter
- Two students on each side. One side asks the court to change an earlier decision, the other defends it.
- The side asking for the change goes first. Both of their students speak, for 10 minutes each.
- Then both students on the other side speak, for 10 minutes each.
- The side asking for the change gets a final 3 minutes at the end.
- The judges can interrupt with questions at any time. Students have to stop and answer.
- Arguments have to come from the case file and from real past court decisions. Personal opinions and made-up facts do not count.
- Teams get a long preparation period before the round to write up their argument and practice.
Prepping a Moot Court round?
Build your case with instant feedback, flow the round live, and run full practice rounds — free.
How to prep for a Moot Court round
- Know the case file and the key past decisions cold. Arguments must come from them.
- Prepare for questions from the bench: list the hardest ones and practice short, direct answers.
- Write a roadmap of your issues so you can get back on track after an interruption.
- If you argue first, save part of the case for your 3-minute rebuttal at the end.
How Moot Court rounds are judged
- You are the bench — focus on legal reasoning, use of precedent, and responsiveness to your questions.
- Interruptions and questions from you are expected and part of the format, not a break in decorum.
- Grade the quality of legal argument, not what you think the real-world outcome of the case should be — most official rules explicitly bar scoring based on your own view of who should win the underlying case.
- Typical rubric categories are knowledge of the record and law, selection of the strongest arguments, persuasive use of citations, and organization — score written and oral components separately if your tournament asks for both.
Check yourself
What do Moot Court advocates argue about?
Points of law, not disputed facts
Which side gets a rebuttal?
Only the Petitioner
How long is each advocate's argument?
10 minutes
What should you do when a judge interrupts with a bench question?
Pause your prepared argument and answer it
What must your arguments be grounded in?
The case record and relevant legal precedent
Frequently asked questions
What is the speech order in Moot Court?
Moot Court has 5 timed parts, in this order: Petitioner Advocate 1 (10 minutes), Petitioner Advocate 2 (10 minutes), Respondent Advocate 1 (10 minutes), Respondent Advocate 2 (10 minutes), Petitioner Rebuttal (3 minutes). That is 43 minutes of timed speaking and questioning in all, plus prep time.
How long does each advocate speak in Moot Court?
Each of the four advocates speaks for 10 minutes, and the side asking for the change gets a final 3-minute rebuttal.
Can judges interrupt in Moot Court?
Yes, at any time. Advocates have to stop and answer, which is a big part of how they are judged.
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