This year, HELI created and launched the first environmental moot court team in Iowa Law’s history. For the first time ever, the three-person Iowa Law team is competing in the Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition (NELMCC) at Pace University’s The Elisabeth Haub School of Law.
Pace University’s NELMCC is one of the largest interschool moot court competitions in the country. Each year, law student advocates nationwide assemble at Pace University to compete in this environmental moot court competition. Over 200 competitors and 150 attorneys participate in grading briefs and serving as judges for the three-day competition. The Iowa Law team is being coached by Ingrid Gronstal, HELI Research Fellow and advised by Mary M. Ksobiech, Professor of Legal Analysis, Writing & Research. The student team consists of advocates Spencer Culver (3L), Sophia Gustafson (3L), Sami Savala (3L).
“It has been really exciting to have the opportunity to coach Iowa Law’s first environmental moot court team,” said Ingrid Gronstal. “If this competition had been available when I was an Iowa Law student, I would have jumped at it. The students are so enthusiastic and willing to challenge themselves; it is an absolute joy working with them.”
The NELMCC environmental moot court experience provides another robust opportunity for Iowa Law students to deepen their experience in environmental, natural resources, and energy law during their time at Iowa Law. During the first portion of the NELMCC, student teams write a brief representing a party in the competition problem. Then they argue the issues before panels of law professors and lawyers acting as appeals court judges. The feedback the students receive during practice and competition helps strengthen their legal analysis and oral advocacy skills. Once the Iowa team successfully files their appellate brief at the end of November, the team will shift to preparing to compete in oral arguments at Pace University’s The Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains, New York in February 2024.
Join us in wishing Iowa Law’s first environmental moot court team the best of luck on the Competition!