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MOOT COURT.
The Moot Court, which is presided over by the Law Faculty, is
organized October 1st, two weeks after the beginning of the course
in Pleading and Practice. Its sessions are held weekly, throughout the
Senior year. Attendance is obligatory on all members of the class in
Pleading and Practice, and on all candidates for graduation.
The object of the Moot Court is to afford to the student practical
facility in the procedure which he will be called on to apply at the bar,
and to familiarize him with the whole proceedings in actions at law,
suits in equity and in criminal cases. In addition to this, when
important questions, whether of practice or of substantive law, are
developed by the pleadings, oral argument of such questions is
required, with or without written briefs as may seem best. Interest
and life are added to the proceedings by the open debate held after
the argument, the presiding judge acting as interlocutor, and leading
into the debate those whose diffidence prompts them to silence.
The Moot Court is also utilized in connection with the course on
Real Property, as a school of conveyancing; the student being required
to prepare contracts, deeds, wills, powers of attorney, etc., to construe
written instruments of all kinds, to examine and pass upon titles; and,
in short, to perform most of the functions of practising counsel.
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