Stuyvesant’s Moot Court Team Secures the Top Manhattan Spot

The Stuyvesant’s Moot Court Team attended the JRC MENTOR Moot Court Competition at the Thurgood Marshall Courthouse on November 25, 2024. They achieved a remarkable milestone by advancing to the semi-finals and being named the “Number One School from Manhattan.”

 In Moot Court, students take on the role of lawyers in the Supreme Court. They use this simulation to sharpen skills such as public speaking and to become more knowledgeable on topics such as civics, ethics, and governmental procedure. This year, Stuyvesant’s team argued whether or not a school had the right to suppress a student’s school election speech off-campus. This win is especially momentous for Stuyvesant’s team—it is the first time that they have advanced to the semi-finals, making progress from ending their season in quarter-finals last year.

Both old and new members were eager to join the team this season. “I had an interest in law, and after being friends with one of the captains, [senior] Ushoshi [Das], I joined in my sophomore year. I felt like I’ve had experience in public speaking and thought I might be good at it, but I had no idea what Moot Court even was at that time,” junior and team member Myles Vuong said. Students were motivated to join the team due to their passion for the law, friendships, and team spirit.

The team also ran tryouts for this year while simultaneously getting started with the necessary casework. “This year, we ran tryouts because we had a large amount of interest, and I already had experience from the year before, so that made case-making and speechwriting easier this time around,” Vuong said. Moot Court has seen an uptick in popularity, leading to the need for tryouts, but experienced members were able to hit the ground running.

The team’s preparation is rigorous and begins even before the case for the competition is officially released. Senior captains Das and Emili Lok strategize with coach and history teacher Lisa Shuman to ensure that practice sessions are productive but not overwhelming. “I do a lot of work reading precedent cases and sharing my research with the team,” Lok said. “Also, since the format is very unique, I help people get used to legalese, writing their outlines, and demeanor.” 

Early stages of preparation focus on thoroughly understanding the facts of the case and the relevant constitutional issues. From there, members research legal precedents and develop arguments for both sides of the case. “Every person on the team has a vital role,” Das said. There are four speakers in the competition, an alternate for each speaker, and 13 members who do research, preparation, and drill the speakers.

Shuman also plays a pivotal role in the team’s success, guiding the members’ preparation process and fostering a supportive, collaborative environment. Her responsibilities go beyond coaching during practices—she manages administrative tasks, coordinates with program facilitators, and works closely with the team captains to set goals and create a structured practice schedule. “I try to kindle the competitive spirit,” Shuman said. “But I also balance that with what is more important—the experiential aspect of the whole process, from working with and making news friends to learning real case precedents and the court system.”

Along with Shuman and the team members’ hard work, the team also had help from the Cravath Law Firm. “After working with our attorney mentors from Cravath, we were polished enough to advance directly to the quarter-final round and then the semi-final round. Although, this year, we weren’t able to directly visit the law firm. We talked with our mentor, Scott, regarding our cases and held mock scrimmages where we received feedback on our style and technique,” Vuong said. This support was welcomed by team members, helped them to improve their cases, and fine-tuned their skills as best as possible.

Role-playing and drills help students anticipate tough questions and refine their oral arguments. “A fun activity we also like to do is try to distract a speaker while they give their speech,” Lok said. This helps the team prepare for the distracting competition environment. 

These drills foster important skills for new and old members. “This is where the team really works to support each other,” Shuman said. “Even new members who may not be competitive speakers get a chance to develop speaking skills, knowledge of the law, and how to argue like a lawyer.”

Formal team practices are held twice a week. As competitions near, special sessions are added as needed based on students’ schedules. “I try to offer my experience by tweaking some of the ‘presentation’—or performance skills, if you will—and appropriate legalese as some of the judges in the first rounds of the competition focus a lot on form and demeanor,” Shuman said. A balance between a conversational tone and formal legal language was emphasized this year—a strategy that reflects real-world court dynamics and eventually contributed to the team’s success.

The road to the semi-finals was covered in standout moments, including a stellar performance in quarter-finals by team captains Das and Lok. “This was the first time that I didn’t look down at my notes at all, and the round gave me confidence in my knowledge of the case,” Das said. They demonstrated composure and legal sharpness, showcasing their ability to think on the spot and respond with legal and factual substance.

During the semi-finals, all four speakers delivered outstanding arguments that even exceeded their own expectations. “It was a super impressive performance which helped propel us to the semi-finals,” Shuman said. “I would have to highlight how the petitioner’s counsel, Mira Nambiar and Myles Vuong, argued and presented in the morning round. It was the best I have seen them do.” 

The captains are also proud of the Moot Court team’s extremely hard work and their quarter-finals win. “It honestly felt really deserved. I think our team has surpassed anyone’s expectations, considering it was defunct for years, and it’s all because of the hard work we put in at practices,” Lok said. It was also a huge bonding moment for the team. “[When we all found out], we started screaming on the subway platform,” she said.

The team dedicated much of their time and energy to preparing for this competition, and it more than paid off. “I know the entire team is overjoyed that we’ve made it this far, especially because we have been able to keep improving,” Das said. 

Reflecting on the journey, Shuman emphasized her pride in the team and the lifelong benefits of Moot Court. “Whether they advance or not, I hope being involved in the team can change lives and open a new interest to them that they didn’t know they had,” she said.

Members also had their own takeaways from this season, especially positive takeaways. “It was surreal this year to speak at the Thurgood Marshall courthouse for the first time and compete in a room where actual attorneys appeal to judges, and it made us more experienced for next time. In the future, I hope that we can continue strengthening the team with a new generation of speakers, and we’ll focus on continuing efficient practices and starting earlier than we did this year,” Vuong said..

Looking ahead, the captains want to help future teams by teaching them what they’ve learned. “Emili and I are working on a dictionary of terms for future team members to use in their arguments and responses,” Das said. “We’ve learned a lot from our judges, and we want the team to have access to the feedback we received.” 

The team has a bright future ahead and is looking forward to their next season. “This was a triumphant year, but I want the team that comes after me to make it even further,” Lok said.