Skip navigation

Regent Law Moot Court

The Regent School of Law Moot Court Board began in 1993 and has continued for several years under the direction of Professor Michael Hernandez. The Board began with only eight members, but they had a goal to present opportunities to help Regent Law School students to develop skills to be successful advocates in the legal profession.

The Moot Court Board included this mission in its Constitution, which it adopted in 1994. Since that time, the Moot Court Board has expanded to up to 12 members and includes positions for 14 associates. The Moot Court Board works within the Regent Law School community by hosting the annual Regent Cup Competition in the fall for second and third-year law school students, and the annual 1L Moot Court Competition in the spring. The Moot Court Board also assists Regent students in the development of oral and written advocacy skills through participation in various external regional and national competitions.

Additionally, the Moot Court Board also hosts two Interscholastic Competitions each year. The American Collegiate Competition, which is held in the fall, provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to experience the reality of the legal profession. Every fall semester, the Moot Court Board hosts the Leroy R. Hassell, Sr. National Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition. Law school students from around the nation participate in this competition and receive key insights from distinguished judges, attorneys, and professors to improve their oral and written advocacy skills.

Each year, Regent students have the opportunity to sharpen their legal writing, oral advocacy, and negotiation skills by competing in a variety of moot court, mock trial, and negotiations competitions across the country. These competitions help students polish the skills fundamental to effective lawyering and reflect the quality of preparation received at Regent Law School. Our students have been extremely successful in competitions at both the regional and national levels.

Click here for Regent Law’s Awards page to view Moot Court’s wins and a complete list of all specialty competition awards.

Executive Board

Chairwoman
Rachel Dever

Vice Chairwoman
May-Lee Melki Constantine

Business Affairs Coordinator/Secretary
Gabrielle Bruno

Interscholastic Competition Coordinator
Naomi Abankwah

Legal Research & Writing Director
Anna Bahr-Fite

Hassell Competition Director
Alyssa Rumbuc

Regent Cup Competition Director
Jeremiah Johansen

Undergraduate Competition Director
Kelly Aeschlimann

1L Moot Court Competition Director
Alexa Macumber

Director of Hospitality and Administrative Liaison
Zach Smith

Public Relations and Special Projects Liaison
May-Lee Melki Constantine

Executive Staff

Elijah Stacks

Associates

David Evans
Alaina Headley
Isaac Helland
Emily Hoegler
Lili Oland
Ben Phelps
Elizabeth Radford
Samuel Smith
Hailey Standridge
Bryan Stokke
Alexander Ioannidis
Jaelyn Morgan
Daniel Luster

The Moot Court Board seeks qualified and highly-motivated law students driven to enhance the appellate advocacy program of Regent Law. The Moot Court Board annually accepts associates from the rising second-year class and qualified, part-time, rising third-year students in the spring semester. Associate applications will be available in April, and only several strong candidates will be granted interviews. Associates are not automatically promoted to board members but must also undergo the board application process in the spring.

Board membership selection requires a separate and additional application process and is conducted in the spring semester. Second-year students and part-time, third-year students may apply. Board applications will be available in March, and only several strong candidates will be granted interviews.

Associate and board applicants must meet several criteria in order to be considered. These criteria will be delineated in the applications. A few of those criteria include:

  • Enrollment in, wait-listed in, or completion of the Appellate Advocacy course with a grade of B- or higher.
  • Competed in or committed to compete in the Regent Cup Competition
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.5 and above
  • Competed in the 1L Competition including any advanced rounds.

All first-year law students of Regent Law are required to participate in the 1L Moot Court Competition. The Moot Court Board assists the Legal Research and Writing Department of Regent Law in coordinating this tournament.

The competition occurs in conjunction with the Legal Research and Writing Syllabus after first-year students have completed writing their first appellate brief at the end of the spring semester. Contact Alexa Macumber, Competition Director, for details at alexkat@mail.regent.edu.

1L Competition Champions

2022: Ben Phelps
2021: Alyssa Rumbuc
2020: Diamond Royster
2019: Christopher Mateer
2018: Nathan Hernandez
2017: Abby Wenger
2016: Alexxa Pritchett
2015: Noah DiPasquale
2014: Andrew Butler
2013: Leah Achor
2012: Joshua Smith
2011: Andrew Hull
2010: Jonathan Young
2009: Brandon Delfunt
2008: Chuck Slemp
2007: Mathew Grosseclose
2006: Cort Walker
2005: Josiah Corrigan
2004: Dean Scharnhorst
2003: Chris Collins
2002: Joshua Didlake

Designed to introduce undergraduate students to the art of appellate advocacy, the American Collegiate Moot Court Competition allows students to showcase their public speaking skills before judges who focus on the students’ ability to extemporaneously answer complex legal questions.

This annual competition is named in honor of the late former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Chief Justice Hassell dedicated his life to the fight for justice for the Commonwealth’s citizens. During his distinguished career, the former Chief Justice championed constitutional rights. He was a leader in equality, becoming the first African-American Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court.

The Regent Cup is open to 2L and 3L students of Regent University School of Law. The purpose of the competition is to enhance the written and oral advocacy skills of students.

Participation in the Regent Cup is a prerequisite for Moot Court Board/Associate membership. Learn more about the Moot Court Board Application process.

Regent Law Moot Court Board
1000 Regent University Drive
RH 252
Virginia Beach, VA 23464

Email: mootcourt@regent.edu | Facebook: regentmootcourt | Instagram: @regentlawmootcourt

Board Member Alumni & Friend Form

If you are either a former Moot Court Board Member or you are interested in keeping up with the Board, we would love to stay connected with you. Please take a few minutes to fill out the form below with your most current information! We look forward to corresponding with you.