Inside Belmont Law's Board of Advocates

Nationally ranked advocacy teams help prepare practice-ready lawyers

Belmont Law’s Board of Advocates ended the 2024-2025 advocacy competition season on a high note, ranking in several national competitions throughout the year.  

Under the leadership of Amy Moore, professor of law and director of advocacy, the Board of Advocates provides students with invaluable opportunities to hone their legal advocacy skills through competitive experiences before entering the profession, further supporting Belmont Law’s commitment to developing practice-ready lawyers.  

What is the Board of Advocates? 

The Board of Advocates is an organization that develops law students’ advocacy skills through competitions. The teams that make up the Board of Advocates have continuously delivered high results, outperforming established legal competitors across the nation. 

This success has played a valuable role in establishing Belmont Law's reputation within the legal community, particularly during its early years. 

"Early on, we were able to make a name for ourselves in advocacy where we couldn't quite yet make a name in some other areas," Moore explained, referring to the period when the College was still seeking full ABA accreditation. 

Each year, Belmont Law students dedicate substantial time to preparing for advocacy competitions while balancing rigorous academic requirements.  

“The experience is demanding and rewarding,” stated Smith Hart, 2L and member of Belmont’s nationally ranked moot court team. “Our team probably put more time and effort into Board of Advocates this semester than we did any other activity in law school. I also don’t think there’s a better way to prepare for being a lawyer, whether that’s through moot court, mock trial or our transactional team.” 

Three different types of teams compete through the year:  

1. Moot Court - Focuses on appellate advocacy, where students write briefs and present oral arguments before mock appellate courts 

1. Mock Trial - Simulates trial-level proceedings with juries, requiring students to manage evidence and develop courtroom presentation skills 

1. Transactional Team - Provides experience in non-litigation settings, such as pitching to executive boards about why a client should hire their law firm for specific tasks 

The competitive variety within the Board of Advocates allows students to explore various legal career paths while developing skills that are essential for whatever path they choose. Moore continuously reminds her students that, “Advocacy is a life skill for a lawyer.” 

"Even if you don't end up in the courtroom, you still have to answer questions about the law to the partner, the client, your colleague," Moore explained. “Even in the transactional track they're still working as lawyers, but they're talking to a board of executives rather than competing against others.” 

The Competition Process 

First-year law students are introduced to advocacy competitions in their required Legal Information and Communications course. The briefs and oral arguments from the top performers serve as a qualifier to participate in the Dean’s Cup, an internal tournament that brings in judges from the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Tennessee. 

The Dean's Cup gives early exposure to high-level legal professionals, serving as a benefit for participants. 

Following their first year, students interested in the Board of Advocates can join the Summer Program to pursue their preferred advocacy track. This six-week program culminates in auditions — oral arguments for moot court, closing arguments for mock trial and presentations for the transactional teams. From these auditions, coaches select approximately 40 students each year to represent Belmont Law in various competitions. 

"It is a lot to balance," Moore acknowledged. "I tell students in the first year of law school to focus on learning how to do law school.” 

Although students receive course credit for up to two competitions, many choose to participate in more without additional credit. 

Beyond advocacy skills, students gain extensive knowledge in specialized areas of law that may not be covered in-depth in their regular coursework. This specialized knowledge becomes a valuable talking point during job interviews and creates networking opportunities with competitors from other schools. 

"In interviews later, people always want to know about competitive advocacy," Moore shared. "It's a very unique networking opportunity.” 

A Coach’s Outstanding Service to Students  

This year, Moore was named a finalist for the prestigious 2025 Presidential Faculty Achievement Award for her outstanding service to students both in and out of the classroom.  

Under Moore's leadership, Board of Advocates members receive mentorship and support. She meets with students individually to refine their arguments, conducts team meetings and organizes practice sessions where teams can test their skills against each other. 

Beyond prep for competition, Moore is committed to ensuring students’ success, even making herself available beyond the traditional scope of the classroom.  

Samantha McCaleb is Belmont Law's first federal appellate clerk (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit). When McCaleb needed to take Moore's Federal Courts class — which wasn't being offered that semester — Moore arranged an independent study to ensure the student was properly prepared. 

“Professor Moore’s dedication to her students and Moot Court team is unmatched,” McCaleb said. “She has pushed me to become not only a better lawyer, but a better person, and I would not be where I am today without her.”  

Mentorship often creates lasting relationships that extend well beyond graduation. Patrick Riley, an alumnus and former moot court student, now serves as assistant coach alongside Moore — a testament to the program's impact. 

For Moore, the most rewarding aspect is watching students grow.  

"To see them blossom over the time period from where they start to where they end is very rewarding," she reflected. "The whole point of Belmont is to create practice-ready lawyers, and to see them become practice-ready while they're still students is very satisfying.”