One of the first steps in preparing for a moot court competition is to read the competition rules. Every competition has a set of rules that govern all aspects of the competition including the formatting, certification and service of briefs, oral arguments, and scoring. The rules may also reference additional court rules, like the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and rules of citation, generally The Bluebook, which you will need to follow in addition to the competition rules.
You can find the competition rules for your moot court on the Introduction page of this guide. Below are resources to assist you in locating and applying federal court rules and guidance on Bluebook citation.
In addition to carefully reading the rules for the moot court competition you are participating in, which you can find linked above, you may also need to review and apply court rules. Many moot courts require that briefs follow the formatting rules of the U.S. Supreme Court or another appellate court. Court rules are procedural laws governing proceedings and practice before the court. Court rules are promulgated by a committee and adopted by the highest court within the jurisdiction. Court rules exist on both the federal and state level, and each court within the jurisdiction will usually have its own rules. Below are some sources for locating and researching court rules.
Citations to legal authority contained in moot court briefs must follow The Bluebook. The BC Law Library has several copies of the most recent edition of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation available for students to borrow. The BC Law Library does not have a subscription to the Online Bluebook, but if you have a personal account you can access it here. Below are resources that can assist you with cite checking your brief.
Understanding and Mastering the Bluebook
by
The Bluebook
