Fact Sheet
The Twenty-Second Annual National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition (NELMCC) will be held on Thursday, February 18, through Saturday, February 20, 2010, at Pace Law School, White Plains, New York.
REGISTRATION
The registration deadline is September 29, 2009. Each participating team is required to complete and return a registration form accompanied by the registration fee of $400, payable by check to Pace Law School–NELMCC or by credit card. The fee covers continental breakfasts, lunches and a reception during the competition. Teams are responsible for their travel, accommodations and other expenses. Registration fees are non-refundable.
Registration is limited to one team per school. Acceptance is determined on a "first come, first served" basis. Please note that we are limiting registrations to 72 teams. Registrations received after September 29, 2009 will be accepted at the discretion of the NELMCC Board but will not be accepted after October 15, 2009. Registration is not complete until the competition office has received both the registration form and fee. The Problem will be sent on the scheduled distribution date to schools whose registration is paid in full.
COMMUNICATION
Official correspondence from the NELMCC office will be directed only to the person listed as the team contact on the registration form. It is the responsibility of the team contact to disseminate all NELMCC correspondence to each member of the team. The NELMCC office will communicate by mail and e-mail.
PROBLEM
The legal Problem drafted each year involves timely issues of national importance to the practice of environmental law. The Problem will be distributed by mail and e-mail on or about October 2, 2009 to all schools that have registered and paid in full. The deadline for questions pertaining to the Problem is October 26, 2009 pursuant to Rule II (B).
BRIEFS
Each team will write a brief for one of the respective parties’ legal positions. The content, legal analysis and accuracy of the briefs are graded by practicing environmental attorneys. Briefs are also graded for correct Bluebook citation, spelling, punctuation and format.
In accordance with Rule IV, the measuring brief and seven other copies of the brief identified only by team number must be mailed or otherwise shipped to the National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition office in a single package bearing a postmark or other indicia that proves the mailing date. The package shall be sent using expedited delivery from a shipper or postal service so that it arrives at the NELMCC office no later than three days from the date of the postmark or indicia. The team must retain proof of mailing, such as a receipt with the transaction date from the shipper or postal service, and a tracking number assigned by the shipper for delivery verification. The briefs shall be postmarked no later than November 20, 2009. A deduction will be applied to late mailings (see Rule IV (C)(1)(d)).
Teams' briefs will be served on other teams via a posting on the Pace Law School web site. Each team must e-mail one copy of its brief (NOT the measuring brief) by November 20, 2009, 11:59 p.m. (EST) to the NELMCC office. Meeting this deadline will constitute fulfillment of the obligation to serve opposing teams. It is the responsibility of the team to ensure that the e-mailed brief contains no identifying information, except the team number. A page will be created on the Pace web site with links to all the teams' briefs. On or about December 4, the NELMCC office will send information on how to gain access to the briefs.
ORAL ROUNDS
Oral arguments begin with the preliminary rounds on Thursday, February 18 and conclude with the final round on Saturday afternoon, February 20, 2010. Each argument will feature three adverse teams. Scoring in the preliminary rounds is based on a combination of the brief scores and scores from the oral rounds. Scoring in the quarterfinal, semifinal and final rounds is based solely on oral performance. Judges evaluating the oral arguments include attorneys with environmental law expertise, local attorneys, members of the Pace environmental law faculty and judges from the Nation’s courts. Final round judges will be members of the federal bench and the US EPA Environmental Appeals Board.
OBSERVING THE ORAL ARGUMENTS
Coaches are allowed to observe quietly in the audience. No written or oral communication may take place between coaches and team members or judges during the oral arguments. When there is sufficient space in a room and with prior permission from the NELMCC Board, visitors may also sit in the audience in accordance with the Visitor Policy (available on request).
AWARDS
Awards are conferred on the winners in each of the following categories:
Winning Team Best Brief Overall Best Oralist
2 Finalist Teams Best Briefs (representing the 2 remaining parties)
The 2009 National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition perpetual trophy is currently at Lewis & Clark Law School. This traveling trophy will be awarded to the winner of the 2010 Competition.
LOCATION & ACCOMMODATIONS
The law school campus is a convenient 45-minute train ride from midtown Manhattan. Information about events and activities in New York City is available on the web at http://www.nycvisit.com/home.
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Crowne Plaza hotel in White Plains, New York. The hotel will provide limited shuttle service to and from the Competition. Teams are responsible for their accommodations and must book rooms directly with the hotel by the hotel reservation deadline. Detailed information about hotel accommodations will be provided to all registrants.
ON THE WEB
The NELMCC office maintains information about upcoming and previous competitions on this Web site. The Competition final round will be videotaped and web cast live on the Pace Law School home page.
IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES
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September 29, 2009
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Registration deadline
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October 2, 2009
(on or about)
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Problem & Rules distribution to registered teams paid in full
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October 26, 2009
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Deadline for questions relevant to the Problem
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| November 1, 2009 |
Deadline to send Team Member Confirmation Form to NELMCC office |
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November 20, 2009
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Briefs to be postmarked to NELMCC office at Pace Law School
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November 20, 2009
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Teams e-mail their brief (NOT measuring brief) to NELMCC office by 11:59 pm (EST) for posting on web site in fulfillment of service on opposing teams
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December 4, 2009
(on or about)
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Pace to e-mail access information to briefs posted on web site
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February 17, 2010
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Advance Competition check-in at hotel
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February 18, 2010
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Competition check-in at Pace Law School
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February 18, 2010
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Preliminary Rounds I & II
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February 19, 2010
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Preliminary Round III & Quarterfinal Round
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February 20, 2010
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Semifinal & Final Rounds
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National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition
Pace Law School
78 North Broadway, Preston 212
White Plains, NY 10603
Phone: (914) 422.4413
Fax: (914) 422.4261
E-mail: nelmcc@law.pace.edu
