The University of Utah College of Law has a comprehensive program in appellate litigation and trial advocacy. The Traynor Moot Court Competition is open to all second-year students. Working in teams of two, students research and write a substantial brief in the first semester. In the second semester, attention shifts to the oral component of appellate litigation.
All students participate in three rounds of oral argument.
Based on scores from their briefs and oral arguments, eight teams advance to a semi-final round. The preliminary rounds are judged by distinguished members of the local bar and judiciary. The presiding judge of the final round, which is held before the entire law school community, is the College of Law's David T. Lewis Distinguished Jurist in Residence, who is joined by two other prominent judges. The national moot court team represents the University of Utah in an interschool competition. The top six students in the second-year Traynor Moot Court Competition are invited to represent the school in their third year.