THE ORDER OF BARRISTERS

IMPORTANT DATES
Friday, May 2, 2008 -- Application Deadline
Friday, May 9, 2008 -- Selection Notification Deadline

I. PURPOSE OF THE ORDER OF BARRISTERS

The Order of Barristers is a national honorary organization which encourages oral advocacy and brief writing skills through effective law school advocacy programs. The Order provides national recognition for individuals who excel in participating in and running advocacy programs at their respective schools.

II. CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP

The Order of Barristers recognizes a University of Washington School of Law chapter. The UW Chapter retains its membership by paying the annual chapter fee and by participating in National Moot Court or National Mock Trial Competitions, as required by The Order's Constitution. The Order's Constitution allows each chapter to select members through The Order of Barristers recognition program.

III. MOOT COURT HONOR BOARD

The Law School has designated the Moot Court Honor Board (MCHB) to oversee The Order of Barristers recognition program. The Vice President of Development (VPD) of the MCHB manages the program.

IV. SELECTION PROCESS FOR STUDENT MEMBERS

A. SELECTION COMMITTEE - The Dean of the Law School will appoint three faculty members to serve as the Selection Committee. The Committee selects students for membership to The Order of Barristers.

B. NUMBER SELECTED - The Selection Committee may select as many students as allowed by The Order's Constitution. The Committee may select fewer members than allowed by the Constitution if fewer are deserving. The VPD will inform the Dean and Selection Committee of the number allowed by the Order's Constitution.

C. ELIGIBLE STUDENTS - Students in their last year of law school are eligible if they competed in two different moot court competitions. Competing in different years in the same competition does not fulfill this requirement. The First Year Competition may be used as one of the two competitions.

D. APPLICATION - Eligible students may apply for membership in The Order of Barristers. The VPD will prepare applications and instructions based on the criteria for selection. The VPD will inform the student bar that the applications are available through notice in the Condon Crier and on the MCHB Bulletin Board. The VPD will collect all applications and forward them to the Selection Committee. The VPD will mark applications from ineligible students "INELIGIBLE" and explain why the applicant is ineligible.

V. SELECTION SCHEDULE

Applications will be available from MCHB on the first Friday of Spring Quarter. The Dean should appoint the Selection Committee by the second week of Spring Quarter. Applications are due by noon on Friday of the week after the Falknor Appellate Advocacy Competition. The Selection Committee should meet the next Tuesday to select members. The Dean should approve or disapprove of the selections by Friday of that week. The VPD will fill out the Schedule Form at Appendix B and provide copies to the Dean and Selection Committee.

VI. SELECTION CRITERIA FOR STUDENT MEMBERS

A. INTENT - Membership in the Order of Barristers is intended to honor law students who excel in participating in and running advocacy programs at the University of Washington School of Law.

B. ELIGIBILITY - The Selection Committee will check all applications to ensure that each applicant meets the eligibility requirements. The Committee will review all applications marked "INELIGIBLE" by the VPD. The Committee may overrule a mistaken decision of the VPD.

C. APPEAL OF INELIGIBLE DETERMINATION - The VPD will immediately inform any ineligible applicant in writing of the reason for ineligibility. The applicant may appeal by writing directly to the Selection Committee.

D. SELECTION CRITERIA - The Committee will use the following criteria to select members. The criteria are based on The Order of Barristers Constitution.

1) Membership on intercollegiate teams and performance in intercollegiate competitions, OR participation in tryouts for intercollegiate teams.

2) Participation and performance in intramural competitions, including the First Year Competition.

3) Participation and performance in the administration of the school's moot court programs. This shall include, but is not limited to, substantial work completed as a Moot Court Honor Board Member.

4) Participation and performance in any programs for the instruction of other law students in brief writing and/or oral advocacy skills.

5) Performance record in the school's brief writing and/or oral advocacy courses.

E. DEAN REVIEW - After marking selected applications as "SELECTED", the Committee will forward all of the applications to the Dean. The Dean will validate or amend the selections. The Dean will inform the VPD of the selections.

F. NO APPEAL - The selections made by the Committee and validated by the Dean are final. There is no appeal or reconsideration of the Committee's or Dean's decisions on eligibility or selection.

VII. HONORARY MEMBERS

The Selection Committee may select members of the legal profession to honorary membership in The Order. The Committee should favor professionals who have attained distinction in service to the school's moot court or clinical programs. The Committee may select one honorary member per year. The faculty and the MCHB may nominate members of the legal profession for honorary membership.

VIII. TRANSMITTAL

A. PROVIDE TO DEAN - The VPD must provide the Dean with a check for The Order of Barristers membership fee, any rewrite of the "Summary of Moot Court and Mock Trial Programs at Member Schools" for The Order of Barrister Annual Report, and the address of the national office of the Order of Barristers.

B. TRANSMITTAL - The Dean will transmit the names of selected members, check, and "Summary" to The Order of the Barristers. The Dean will send an information copy to the VPD.

IX. RECOGNITION

A. CERTIFICATE - The Order of Barristers will send certificates for each selected member to the Dean. The Dean will forward the certificates to the VPD. The MCHB will determine the method of presenting the awards.

X. AMENDMENT

These rules may be amended by a majority vote of a quorum of the Moot Court Honor Board. The application form and schedule may be amended by a majority vote of the MCHB Executive Committee.

If you have any questions contact VP of Development, Anna Jackson..