From MSU Law
For the second time in two years, Michigan State University College of Law’s Moot Court Program is ranked No. 1 in the country against more than 200 law schools.
In the last six years, MSU has landed in the top five of the nation’s law schools three times. To be considered the best, schools earn points for their performance at national and regional moot court competitions, which focus on both written and oral advocacy.
“MSU College of Law has once again risen to the top in Moot Court competitions,” said Dean Michael Sant’Ambrogio. “A huge congratulations goes to all the students who participated as well as the many coaches and faculty mentors. Professor Jennifer Copland always provides outstanding leadership of the program, which consistently ranks among the best in the nation. What a wonderful way to end the semester!”
MSU had a banner year in the 2024-25 season, winning three national competitions and three regional competitions. In addition, students earned five best brief awards and two best oralist awards across national events, as well as four national semifinal finishes.
The University of Houston Law Center’s Blakely Advocacy Institute released its 2024-25 rankings on May 1.
A look inside MSU’s program
Depending on the type of competition, students learn advanced legal research and writing techniques and work to improve their oral argument, public speaking and negotiation skills – all while competing against other top law schools at more than 20 moot court competitions, in addition to trial, arbitration and negotiation competitions.
A hallmark of MSU’s moot court program is its community of supporters, coaches and mentors who help the teams prepare and ultimately succeed. This year, more than 25 professors, alumni, practitioners and MSU friends served as coaches and advisors across moot court, trial and arbitration competitions.
Spartan Excellence 2024-25
This season, more than 150 students applied for competition teams, with 89 ultimately participating on at least one team. Selected highlights:
National champions:
Fall 2024
Amanda Igra, ’25, and Joe Greene, ’25, at the Wechsler First Amendment Moot Court Competition, hosted at American University
Reem Albudoor, ’25, Nicholas Langenberg, ’25, and Neelan Bosnic, ’25, at the Zehmer Workers Compensation Moot Court Competition, hosted by the Workers’ Compensation Institute
Runner-Up Team: Olivia Tucker, ’25, and Amanda Igra, ’25
Noah Martin, ’25, and Gabby Sheets, ’26, at the Williams Institute Moot Court Competition, hosted at the University of California, Los Angeles
Regional champions:
Spring 2025
Joe Greene, Laura Fox, ’26, and Nichole Gertsen, ’25, at the National Appellate Advocacy Competition, hosted by the American Bar Association
Nayeli Diaz, ’26, Joshua Kaplansky, ’26, Areiyen Hofioni, ’25, and Jessica Fox, ’26, at the Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Competition, hosted by the International Trademark Association
Nicholas Langenberg, Katherine Held, ’26, and Brandon Matthews, ’27, at the Shapero Cup Regional Moot Court Competition, hosted by the American Bankruptcy Institute
Awarded best brief:
Fall 2024
1st place: Amanda Igra and Joe Greene at the Wechsler First Amendment Moot Court Competition
Spring 2025
1st place: Leo Kresch, ’26, Daniel Bottke, ’27, and Valerie McNamara, ’27, and 3rd place: Laura Fox, Joe Greene and Nichole Gertsen at the National Appellate Advocacy Competition
1st place: Nayeli Diaz, Joshua Kaplansky, Areiyen Hofioni, and Jessica Fox, at regionals of the Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Competition
1st place: Rory Spence, ’26, Nygie Rhodes, ’26, and Anthony Spizziri, ’26, at the Wechsler Criminal Law Moot Court Competition, hosted at the University at Buffalo School of Law
1st place: Rachel Woods, ’26, Skyla Snable, ’26, and Amanda Igra at the National Child Welfare and Adoption Law Moot Court Competition, hosted at Capital University Law School
2nd place: Hannah Mahn, ’26, and Daniel Brown, ’26, at MSU Law’s Gender and Sexuality Moot Court Competition
Awarded best oralist:
Fall 2024
2nd place: Joe Greene and 5th place: Amanda Igra at the Wechsler First Amendment Moot Court Competition
Spring 2025
1st place: Katherine Held and 2nd place: Nicholas Langenberg at the Shapero Cup Regional Moot Court Competition
1st place: Reem Albudoor at the Gibbons Criminal Procedural Moot Court Competition, hosted at Seton Hall Law School
1st place: Daniel Brown and 2nd place: Ethan Merenda, ’26, at MSU Law’s Gender and Sexuality Moot Court Competition
5th place: Janelle Orange, ’25, at the National Native American Law Students Moot Court Competition, hosted at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
MSU edged out NYU School of Law this year to claim the #1 spot in the rankings. Other top finishers include South Texas College of Law (#3), Liberty University School of Law (#4), and Baylor University School of Law (#5).
For more details on the national 2024-25 Moot Court Program Rankings, visit law.uh.edu.
For the second time in two years, Michigan State University College of Law’s Moot Court Program is ranked No. 1 in the country against more than 200 law schools.
In the last six years, MSU has landed in the top five of the nation’s law schools three times. To be considered the best, schools earn points for their performance at national and regional moot court competitions, which focus on both written and oral advocacy.
“MSU College of Law has once again risen to the top in Moot Court competitions,” said Dean Michael Sant’Ambrogio. “A huge congratulations goes to all the students who participated as well as the many coaches and faculty mentors. Professor Jennifer Copland always provides outstanding leadership of the program, which consistently ranks among the best in the nation. What a wonderful way to end the semester!”
MSU had a banner year in the 2024-25 season, winning three national competitions and three regional competitions. In addition, students earned five best brief awards and two best oralist awards across national events, as well as four national semifinal finishes.
The University of Houston Law Center’s Blakely Advocacy Institute released its 2024-25 rankings on May 1.
A look inside MSU’s program
Depending on the type of competition, students learn advanced legal research and writing techniques and work to improve their oral argument, public speaking and negotiation skills – all while competing against other top law schools at more than 20 moot court competitions, in addition to trial, arbitration and negotiation competitions.
A hallmark of MSU’s moot court program is its community of supporters, coaches and mentors who help the teams prepare and ultimately succeed. This year, more than 25 professors, alumni, practitioners and MSU friends served as coaches and advisors across moot court, trial and arbitration competitions.
Spartan Excellence 2024-25
This season, more than 150 students applied for competition teams, with 89 ultimately participating on at least one team. Selected highlights:
National champions:
Fall 2024
Amanda Igra, ’25, and Joe Greene, ’25, at the Wechsler First Amendment Moot Court Competition, hosted at American University
Reem Albudoor, ’25, Nicholas Langenberg, ’25, and Neelan Bosnic, ’25, at the Zehmer Workers Compensation Moot Court Competition, hosted by the Workers’ Compensation Institute
Runner-Up Team: Olivia Tucker, ’25, and Amanda Igra, ’25
Noah Martin, ’25, and Gabby Sheets, ’26, at the Williams Institute Moot Court Competition, hosted at the University of California, Los Angeles
Regional champions:
Spring 2025
Joe Greene, Laura Fox, ’26, and Nichole Gertsen, ’25, at the National Appellate Advocacy Competition, hosted by the American Bar Association
Nayeli Diaz, ’26, Joshua Kaplansky, ’26, Areiyen Hofioni, ’25, and Jessica Fox, ’26, at the Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Competition, hosted by the International Trademark Association
Nicholas Langenberg, Katherine Held, ’26, and Brandon Matthews, ’27, at the Shapero Cup Regional Moot Court Competition, hosted by the American Bankruptcy Institute
Awarded best brief:
Fall 2024
1st place: Amanda Igra and Joe Greene at the Wechsler First Amendment Moot Court Competition
Spring 2025
1st place: Leo Kresch, ’26, Daniel Bottke, ’27, and Valerie McNamara, ’27, and 3rd place: Laura Fox, Joe Greene and Nichole Gertsen at the National Appellate Advocacy Competition
1st place: Nayeli Diaz, Joshua Kaplansky, Areiyen Hofioni, and Jessica Fox, at regionals of the Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Competition
1st place: Rory Spence, ’26, Nygie Rhodes, ’26, and Anthony Spizziri, ’26, at the Wechsler Criminal Law Moot Court Competition, hosted at the University at Buffalo School of Law
1st place: Rachel Woods, ’26, Skyla Snable, ’26, and Amanda Igra at the National Child Welfare and Adoption Law Moot Court Competition, hosted at Capital University Law School
2nd place: Hannah Mahn, ’26, and Daniel Brown, ’26, at MSU Law’s Gender and Sexuality Moot Court Competition
Awarded best oralist:
Fall 2024
2nd place: Joe Greene and 5th place: Amanda Igra at the Wechsler First Amendment Moot Court Competition
Spring 2025
1st place: Katherine Held and 2nd place: Nicholas Langenberg at the Shapero Cup Regional Moot Court Competition
1st place: Reem Albudoor at the Gibbons Criminal Procedural Moot Court Competition, hosted at Seton Hall Law School
1st place: Daniel Brown and 2nd place: Ethan Merenda, ’26, at MSU Law’s Gender and Sexuality Moot Court Competition
5th place: Janelle Orange, ’25, at the National Native American Law Students Moot Court Competition, hosted at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
MSU edged out NYU School of Law this year to claim the #1 spot in the rankings. Other top finishers include South Texas College of Law (#3), Liberty University School of Law (#4), and Baylor University School of Law (#5).
For more details on the national 2024-25 Moot Court Program Rankings, visit law.uh.edu.
