Duke University School of Law Moot Court Board

POLICIES REGARDING
THE DEAN'S CUP

The following guidelines concerning research, brief writing, oral arguments, and more, apply to the all Dean's Cup competitors.  All competitors will be deemed on notice of these policies and guidelines.  If you are unsure as to what is or is not acceptable behavior, please err on the side of caution, and feel free to contact the Dean's Cup Coordinators with any questions you have regarding the propriety of any specific conduct.

1. Research & Writing:
• The written brief and oral arguments should be based on the Record of Appeal from the Appellate Practice class.  Copies of the Record are available on the Dean’s Cup website.
• Although additional research is not required, you may use all available research tools, including LEXIS-NEXIS and Westlaw.
• You may discuss the case and the issues with other students, professors, or other individuals within the Duke Law community, but your final written brief to qualify to the Moot Court Board must be your own individual work.
• You may not access, review, or rely upon any brief or other writing prepared or submitted in connection with the actual litigation unless such a brief or writing is provided by the Moot Court Board. 

2. Practice and Oral Argument:
• There are no restrictions on practicing for your oral arguments.  You may practice with fellow competitors, other students, and/or members of the Moot Court Board. 
• All competitors will argue both on- and off-brief in each preliminary round.
• Each team will have 25 minutes for each oral argument.  That time must be split roughly evenly between both teammates.  Petitioners may reserve up to 5 minutes of their 25 minutes for rebuttal.  If a competitor fails to reserve time for rebuttal before beginning his or her argument, the rebuttal will be deemed waived.
• In the course of oral argument, you need not address all issues raised in your brief.
• The first two rounds of oral argument will be judged by faculty and alumni.  The semifinal and final rounds will be judged by federal and state court judges and/or justices and/or faculty members. 
• The use of electronic recording devices is not permitted during any oral arguments, except where deemed appropriate by the Dean's Cup Coordinators.  For instance, in all likelihood, the final round will be videotaped.
• Competitors will receive only oral feedback at the conclusion of each round; written feedback and other evaluations will not be made available to competitors at any time.
   
3. Restricted Communication
• During the Dean’s Cup competition, you may not discuss with any person, except your teammate, what occurred during your own or anyone else’s oral argument until after all oral arguments are concluded.
• Once the competition begins, competitors may no longer discuss their preparation with any person, except their teammate; competitors may continue to prepare with their teammate.
• Unlike in the Hardt Cup, for the Dean's Cup there are no restrictions on interaction with members of the Moot Court Board.  You may discuss the problem, your brief, and/or your oral arguments with Board Members.  However, Board members are not at liberty to discuss the bench brief or brief and oral argument scoring/judging with any of the competitors.