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The 2026 Blakely-Butler Moot Court Competition will be held in person on November 13-14.

DATES FOR THE 2026 BLAKELY-BUTLER MOOT COURT COMPETITION:

  • Lunch & Learn: October 22 at 12 PM in Room 312
  • https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2127111402086190?p=esxVDpNSX1oIekrLfD
  • Skills Workshop: October 27 at 12 PM in Room 312
  • Registration Begins: October 16
  • Registration Ends: October 26th, or until sign-ups filled
  • Problem Released: October 26th
  • Competition Begins: November 13th
  • Writing Component for Course Credit Due: December 11th

WITNESS AND PARTNER SEARCH
If you are looking for a partner or witnesses, please reach out to competition director Sophia Kostiuk (sakostiu@CougarNet.UH.EDU).

LUNCH & LEARN SLIDES

HOW TO SIGN UP

Step 1
Pay for your team on PayPal and make sure to save your confirmation number. There are 3 options: (1) $20 if both team members are also Advocates members, (2) $100 if both team members are non-Advocates members, or (3) $60 for half and half.

**Please note in the payment for the names of each teammate AND “Blakely-Butler Moot Court”***

Step 2
Fill out this Google Form.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION
The Blakely-Butler Moot Court Competition is open to all students (Yes, 1L’s may participate!) at the University of Houston Law Center.  The competition is “closed-research,” meaning that a pool of eligible cases and materials will be provided by The Advocates, and competitors are not allowed to cite other materials in their arguments.  Teams will prepare and present oral arguments for both sides of the case.

A Competition Team consists of two UHLC students, both serving as attorneys, and both attorneys must present in each round.  Competition rounds are judged by members of the Houston legal community, who often offer feedback to the teams after the round is over.  Teams are scored on the substantive content of their arguments, knowledge of the record, extemporaneous ability, and courtroom demeanor.

UHLC students, faculty, staff, and friends are invited to attend the Final Round on Zoom.

COURSE CREDIT & PRIZES
UHLC students can earn 1 hour of non-substantive competition credit by (1) making a good-faith effort in the Competition and (2) completing and timely submitting the writing assignment for the Competition that is described in the Competition Rules.

Click here to complete a Competition Credit Petition.

The Competition Teams that advance to the Final Round will receive a cash prize.  The Best Speaker in the Final Round will also be recognized.

QUESTIONS?
Email Sophia Kostiuk, sakostiu@CougarNet.UH.EDU, Director of the Blakely-Butler Moot Court Competition.