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How to Become a MemberEach year MCHB extends invitations to new members based on outstanding performance in in-house, regional, and national moot court competitions.
For purposes of the Appellate Advocacy Competition, all competitors reaching the semifinal round of the competition are eligible for selection to the MCHB, regardless of the number of brackets. For all other in-house competitions, all competitors reaching the semifinal rounds of the competition are eligible for selection to the MCHB. All 1L applicants--even those who believe they will be invited on based on Appellate Advocacy or Mock Trial performance--must fill out membership applications. Applications for membership will be available near the end of Spring quarter. Individuals selected for membership are generally notified in early to mid-summer, prior to the submission deadline for OCI resumes. |
Selections by Class
1Ls
There are three ways that 1L students may be asked to join MCHB:
1. Performance in the Mock Trial Competition
2. Performance in Appellate Advocacy Competition
3. Cumulative points selection
Students are invited to join MCHB after the conclusion of Appellate Advocacy in the Spring—they apply and are selected out of the applicant pool in this order: Mock Trial; Appellate Advocacy; cumulative points.
Performance in Mock Trial
Students are invited to join MCHB based on their performance in Mock Trial. Students who compete in Mock Trial and make it to at least the semifinal rounds are ranked according to their “speaker score.” Speaker scores on MCHB represent the sum of the best three average oral scores of all the rounds in which a competitor has competed. The average oral score is the sum of the oral scores of all the ballots in a round for the competitor divided by the number of ballots in that round, rounded to the nearest hundredth. The competitors with the three highest speaker scores are invited to join MCHB. Because speaker awards at the end of the Mock Trial competition are also awarded to the competitors with the three highest speaker scores, these invitations to join MCHB are often slotted for the competitors who won speaker awards. If a person who wins a speaker award decides not to apply for MCHB membership, the invitation to join MCHB will move to the person with the next highest speaker score.
Performance in Appellate Advocacy
Students are invited to join MCHB based on their performance in Appellate Advocacy. Unlike Mock Trial, Appellate Advocacy is evaluated based on a combination of the speaker score and the competitor’s brief score—the competitor’s brief score is converted to a 50-point scale and then added to the speaker score. Of competitors who made it to at least the semifinal round, the competitors with the four highest combined brief and speaker scores are extended invitations to join MCHB; in the event that one of these competitors does not apply, the invitation moves down the list.
Cumulative Points Selection
Students are invited to join MCHB based on their cumulative points. Competitors earn cumulative points throughout the year for their participation in competitions. Those points are awarded as follows:
1. Performance in the Mock Trial Competition
2. Performance in Appellate Advocacy Competition
3. Cumulative points selection
Students are invited to join MCHB after the conclusion of Appellate Advocacy in the Spring—they apply and are selected out of the applicant pool in this order: Mock Trial; Appellate Advocacy; cumulative points.
Performance in Mock Trial
Students are invited to join MCHB based on their performance in Mock Trial. Students who compete in Mock Trial and make it to at least the semifinal rounds are ranked according to their “speaker score.” Speaker scores on MCHB represent the sum of the best three average oral scores of all the rounds in which a competitor has competed. The average oral score is the sum of the oral scores of all the ballots in a round for the competitor divided by the number of ballots in that round, rounded to the nearest hundredth. The competitors with the three highest speaker scores are invited to join MCHB. Because speaker awards at the end of the Mock Trial competition are also awarded to the competitors with the three highest speaker scores, these invitations to join MCHB are often slotted for the competitors who won speaker awards. If a person who wins a speaker award decides not to apply for MCHB membership, the invitation to join MCHB will move to the person with the next highest speaker score.
Performance in Appellate Advocacy
Students are invited to join MCHB based on their performance in Appellate Advocacy. Unlike Mock Trial, Appellate Advocacy is evaluated based on a combination of the speaker score and the competitor’s brief score—the competitor’s brief score is converted to a 50-point scale and then added to the speaker score. Of competitors who made it to at least the semifinal round, the competitors with the four highest combined brief and speaker scores are extended invitations to join MCHB; in the event that one of these competitors does not apply, the invitation moves down the list.
Cumulative Points Selection
Students are invited to join MCHB based on their cumulative points. Competitors earn cumulative points throughout the year for their participation in competitions. Those points are awarded as follows:
In House Competitions
Less than Quarterfinal - 1
Quarterfinal - 3
Semifinal - 4
Finalist - 5
Champion - 6
Third Place Speaker or Brief - 1
Second Place Speaker or Brief - 2
Best Speaker or Brief - 3
Less than Quarterfinal - 1
Quarterfinal - 3
Semifinal - 4
Finalist - 5
Champion - 6
Third Place Speaker or Brief - 1
Second Place Speaker or Brief - 2
Best Speaker or Brief - 3
2Ls
2Ls are invited to join MCHB in much the same way as 1Ls, only 2L invitations are ongoing throughout the year.
Performance in Mock Trial
2Ls are invited to join MCHB based on their participation in Mock Trial. Like 1Ls, competitors are ranked according to their “speaker score.” Speaker scores on MCHB represent the sum of the best three average oral scores of all the rounds in which a competitor has competed. The average oral score is the sum of the oral scores of all the ballots in a round for the competitor divided by the number of ballots in that round, rounded to the nearest hundredth. The 2L competitors with the two highest speaker scores are invited to join MCHB.
Performance in Appellate Advocacy
2Ls are invited to join MCHB based on their participation in Falknor Appellate Advocacy. Like 1L Appellate Advocacy, Falknor Appellate Advocacy is evaluated based on a combination of the speaker score and the competitor’s brief score—the competitor’s brief score is converted to a 50-point scale and then added to the speaker score. The competitors with the two highest combined brief and speaker scores are extended invitations to join MCHB.
Cumulative Points Selection
2Ls are invited to join MCHB based on their cumulative points at the end of Winter Quarter. Cumulative points accumulate through both 1L and 2L year. Applications for admission through Cumulative Points Selection open at the end of winter quarter. Cumulative points are awarded as follows:
Performance in Mock Trial
2Ls are invited to join MCHB based on their participation in Mock Trial. Like 1Ls, competitors are ranked according to their “speaker score.” Speaker scores on MCHB represent the sum of the best three average oral scores of all the rounds in which a competitor has competed. The average oral score is the sum of the oral scores of all the ballots in a round for the competitor divided by the number of ballots in that round, rounded to the nearest hundredth. The 2L competitors with the two highest speaker scores are invited to join MCHB.
Performance in Appellate Advocacy
2Ls are invited to join MCHB based on their participation in Falknor Appellate Advocacy. Like 1L Appellate Advocacy, Falknor Appellate Advocacy is evaluated based on a combination of the speaker score and the competitor’s brief score—the competitor’s brief score is converted to a 50-point scale and then added to the speaker score. The competitors with the two highest combined brief and speaker scores are extended invitations to join MCHB.
Cumulative Points Selection
2Ls are invited to join MCHB based on their cumulative points at the end of Winter Quarter. Cumulative points accumulate through both 1L and 2L year. Applications for admission through Cumulative Points Selection open at the end of winter quarter. Cumulative points are awarded as follows:
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In House Competitions
Less than Quarterfinal - 1 Quarterfinal - 3 Semifinal - 4 Finalist - 5 Champion - 6 Third Place Speaker or Brief - 1 Second Place Speaker or Brief - 2 Best Speaker or Brief - 3 |
National or Independent Team Competitions
Quarterfinal or Less - 2 Semifinal - 4 Finalist - 6 Champion - 8 Third Place Speaker or Brief - 1 Second Place Speaker or Brief - 1 Best Speaker or Brief - 2 |
3Ls
3Ls are generally not extended invitations to join MCHB. 3Ls may be asked to join MCHB, however, through a process called “special selection.” Pursuant to MCHB Bylaws, the Executive Board may nominate students who “win awards” at regional or national competitions for special selection. Nominees must receive the votes of a two-thirds majority of the full MCHB membership to be invited to join. Typically, special selection occurs before the end of Winter Quarter every year.
Technically, any 2L or 3L (including transfer students) can be selected to join MCHB through special selection. However, 2L members added by special selection count against the four 2L cumulative selection spots. Special selection is thus very rarely used to select anyone except 3Ls.
Technically, any 2L or 3L (including transfer students) can be selected to join MCHB through special selection. However, 2L members added by special selection count against the four 2L cumulative selection spots. Special selection is thus very rarely used to select anyone except 3Ls.
