The Tax Section of The Florida Bar hosts National Tax Moot Court Competitions for students from law schools across the country to demonstrate their written brief and oral argument skills while networking with attorneys.
The competition consists of a first-round double-elimination oral argument followed by single-elimination quarterfinals, semifinals, and final rounds. There is a separate competition for written briefs, with independent judging and awards. The problem consists of three or four issues, all tax-related. For preliminary rounds of the oral argument competition, judges are attorneys who are members of The Florida Bar Tax Section. The final and consolation rounds consist of judges from the United States Tax Court. On the final day, at a dinner/reception, awards will be presented to the teams that had the best written briefs and oral arguments.
2024 Competition
Register by December 1 for The Florida Bar Tax Section’s March 7–9, 2024, National Tax Moot Court Competition at Stetson University College of Law.
WHEN: March 7–9, 2024
WHERE: Stetson University College of Law, 1401 61st St. S, Gulfport, FL 33707, (727) 562-7800
CONTACT: Stetson Professor of Law Brooke J. Bowman, Director of Finances, Advocacy Boards; Director, Moot Court Board, (727) 562-7370 or bowman@law.stetson.edu
PRICING: Individual team registration $900; individual banquet ticket $75
AWARDS:
– Oral Arguments: Winner, 1st Runner Up, 2nd Runner Up
– Written Briefs: Best Brief, Runner Up
– Best Individual Oralist
2022 Competition
The 2022 National Tax Moot Court Competition took place in person from March 17-19 at University of Miami Law.
Rules of Entry
The Florida Bar Tax Section sponsors the National Tax Moot Court Competition on an annual basis and it is limited to sixteen (16) teams from law schools throughout the country. Schools are allowed to enter more than one team only if less than sixteen schools register. Each team shall consist of two or three students, all of whom must be full time law students at the time of the competition. Teams will be allowed entry on a first come, first served basis upon receipt of both the completed registration form and payment of the entry fees.
Due to the popularity of this competition, The Tax Section cannot guarantee all interested teams a spot. We do, however, try to be fair and give everyone the opportunity to participate. Each year, registration packets are provided to all schools that competed in the prior year’s competition. Returning schools will have one week advanced notice to register before the competition is open to everyone. It is important to note that returning schools are not guaranteed a position in the competition. A week after, notices are sent to the remaining schools.
Awards
Team Oral Argument Award is presented to the team that exemplified the best oral presentation argument in front of the judges.
Team Brief Award is presented to the team that provided the best-written brief to the judges.
Best Oralist Award is presented to the individual who exemplified the best oral argument presentation in front of the judges.
Please contact the Tax Section’s Program Administrator, Whitney Bledsoe, at wbledsoe@floridabar.org for more details.
2022 Winners (Competition not held in 2023)
Winner – Oral Argument: University of Alabama School of Law, Team 11
1st Runner Up – Oral Argument: Stetson University College of Law, Team 10
2nd Runner Up – Oral Argument: New England Law, Team 6
Winner – Best Brief: George Washington University of Law, Team 2
Runner Up – Best Brief: University of Alabama School of Law, Team 11
Best Individual Oralist: Zachary Babo, University of Baltimore, Team 9
2021 Winners
Winner – Oral Argument: Stetson University College of Law
1st Runner Up – Oral Argument: Texas Tech University School of Law
2nd Runner Up – Oral Argument: Not Awarded
Winner – Best Brief: Stetson University College of Law
Runner Up – Best Brief: St. Thomas University School of Law
Best Individual Oralist: Omar Hussein, Stetson University College of Law
2020 Winners
Winner – Oral Argument: University of Wisconsin Madison
1st Runner Up – Oral Argument: University of Miami School of Law
2nd Runner Up – Oral Argument: Florida A&M University College of Law |
Winner – Best Brief: University of Alabama Law School
Runner Up – Best Brief: University of Wisconsin Madison
Best Individual Oralist: Gabrielle Hasner, University of Miami School of Law
2019 Winners
Winner, Oral Argument: Liberty University School of Law
William Baker, John Riordan, and Jonathan Shbeeb
Coach: Tim Todd
1st Runner-Up, Oral Argument: Stetson University College of Law
Deanna Cipriano, Romina Drazhi, and Mark Joseph
Coach: Katie Everlove-Stone
2nd Runner-Up, Oral Argument: University of Baltimore School of Law
Brenton Conrad and Dara Polokoff
Coach: Fred Brown
Best Individual Oralist: Shantell Middleton, Charleston School of Law
Coach: Jake Paskan
Best Brief: Liberty University School of Law
William Baker, John Riordan, and Jonathan Shbeeb
Coach: Tim Todd
1st Runner-Up, Best Brief: St. Thomas University School of Law
Yung Troung and Arlene Williams
Coach: Jake Even, Esq.
2018 Winners
Winner, Oral Argument: Charleston School of Law
1st Runner Up, Oral Argument: University of Alabama School of Law
2nd Runner Up, Oral Argument: University of Oregon School of Law
Best Individual Oralist: Richmond Gunter, University of Alabama School of Law
Best Brief: Suffolk University Law School
Runner Up, Best Brief: LSU