RULE I. ORGANIZATION
The National Animal Advocacy Competitions are inter-law school events comprised of Appellate Moot Court, Closing Argument, Mock Trial, and Legislative Drafting & Lobbying Competitions. The events provide law students an opportunity to develop an expertise in animal law and to hone their persuasive abilities as well as their written and oral advocacy techniques.
RULE II. REGISTRATION
A. The competitions are open to the first 15 students to register. Students must be registered at any undergraduate university or law school in the United States.
B. Alternate participants may not be sent.
C. Registration will open February 22, 2008. Students must complete the registration form online and pay the registration fee of $150 within 7 days. Registration will close on March 31, 2008. Students will not receive refunds once registered.
RULE III. PROBLEM
A. Distribution. The problem will be posted on the competitions website on February 29, 2008.
B. Components. Students are responsible for downloading the problem, guide, legislator profiles, and supporting fact sheets.
Submission of bill. Students must email the written proposed bill and one page fact sheet by midnight in the competitor's timezone on March 31, 2008 to lireland@lclark.edu.
RULE IV. ROUNDS & SCORING
A. Drafting. The proposed bill will be scored by a committee of experienced lobbyists and legislators.
B. Rounds. The schedule for the preliminary rounds will be posted on the website on March 31, 2008. Each student will participate in three preliminary rounds attempting to persuade the “members of Congress” based on three legislator profiles.
C. Advancement to final round. At the conclusion of the three preliminary rounds, a total score for each student will be calculated. The total score will be calculated as follows: 25% based on the student’s proposed bill and 75% on the student’s combined oral scores from each of the three preliminary rounds (25% from each round). The three students with the top total scores will advance to the final round.
D. Order, timing and results of arguments.
1. Time allowed for lobbying. Each student will be allowed 10 minutes in each round. A timekeeper will display a green card until only one minute remains of the participant’s allotted time, and signals will be given at the 5 minute, and 3 minute marks. When one minute remains, a yellow card will be displayed. When the participant’s time has expired, a red card will be displayed, signaling that the participant must conclude promptly.
RULE V. AWARDS
The winner of the Animal Law Legislative Drafting & Lobbying Competition will receive an individual plaque, and a school plaque.
The two runners-up will receive an individual plaque.
RULE VI. PENALTIES
The Board may assess such penalties, including disqualification, as it deems reasonable and appropriate in its sole discretion for failure to comply with the rules or deadlines set pursuant to these rules.
RULE VII. INTERPRETATION OF THE RULES
Requests for interpretation of these rules should be addressed to the National Center for Animal Law. Requests should be made at the earliest date possible. All interpretations of these rules and any waivers, consents, assessments of penalties, decisions or other actions taken by the Board in its administration of the Competition shall be in its sole and absolute discretion. Such interpretations, waivers, consents, assessments of penalties, decisions or actions shall be final, and all participants shall be bound thereby.
RULE VIII. OTHER RULES
The Board may from time to time make any other rules and procedures deemed advisable for the conduct of the Competition, in its sole discretion.
Please address questions about the National Animal Advocacy Competitions to ncal@lclark.edu, (503) 768-6849.
Answers to all questions will be distributed to all participants through email.
