The Moot Court Bench consists of the College of Law's top oral advocates. The Bench is composed of students who competed in internal competitions and advanced to teams that represent the College at prestigious state, regional, national and international competitions. The Bench also functions as a governing body, coordinating the College's internal competitions and implementing administrative and policy decisions. The Frederick Green Moot Court Competition is the oldest and, generally, largest of the moot court competitions at the University of Illinois College of Law. The issue is often a constitutional one and is briefed and argued as if before the United States Supreme Court.
Participants are in teams of two, each member taking a particular question presented.
Each team prepares a brief, with each participant writing the argument for his or her question presented. After the teams submit the brief, the teams will participate in a number of oral arguments, at least one of which will be off-brief. The 24 participants then brief and argue another issue, and based on this performance competitors will qualify for one of four teams that will represent the College of Law the following year at various competitions around the country. The Jessup competition deals with international law. Since foundation over four decades ago, the Jessup competition has risen to the preeminent position of being the world's largest and most prestigious international law moot court competition.