Appellate Team
For students who love legal research, writing, and sharp oral argument, CWSL’s Appellate Team offers a chance to build elite appellate advocacy skills while competing against top law schools across the nation — and around the world.
From Brief to Bench: Advocacy in Action
Team members learn to craft compelling legal arguments through intensive brief
writing and oral advocacy training. Students research complex legal issues, draft
persuasive briefs, and master citation and formatting. They then argue before panels
of judges, responding to challenging questions with composure and clarity.
Faculty, alumni, and practicing appellate attorneys provide expert mentorship, helping
students gain skills that directly translate to success in practice, clerkships, and
public service.
Whether you aim to argue in appellate courts, shape public policy, or refine your
analytical skills, Moot Court at CWSL will challenge and prepare you like few other
law school experiences.
Competitions
Our Appellate Team represents California Western in local, national, and even international tournaments, competing against law schools from across the country and around the world. Students work closely in small teams, guided by experienced faculty, alumni, and local attorneys, to prepare for each round. Through this collaborative, hands-on training, our students sharpen their advocacy skills in real-world settings.
Competitions We Attend
Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
This is the world’s largest and most prestigious moot court tournament, simulating a dispute between nations before the International Court of Justice. Teams prepare written memorials and deliver oral arguments for both sides of a complex public international law case, competing before panels of expert judges from around the globe.
UC Davis Asylum & Refugee Law National Moot Court Competition
This competition is the only U.S. moot court focused exclusively on asylum and refugee law. Law students write briefs and present oral arguments in a simulated U.S. Supreme Court appeal, judged by leading immigration experts and appellate practitioners.
Thomas Tang National Moot Court Competition
This competition is a national appellate advocacy tournament hosted by the NAPABA Law Foundation, aimed at developing the next generation of skilled advocates. Honoring Judge Tang’s legacy of civil rights and inclusion, the competition challenges students to brief and argue complex constitutional issues while promoting diversity in the legal profession.
Recent Success
The CWSL Appellate Team continues to excel on the national and international stage, earning recognition for their talent, preparation, and professionalism.
Notable Finishes
- 2025 Pacific Regional Champion & Best Brief – Judge Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition
- 2025 Octofinalist and 5th Place Memorial – Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
- 2022 7th Place Memorial at Nationals – Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
- 2021 Advanced to Global Rounds of Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
- 2021 1st Place Brief and Best Advocate Award – Pepperdine National Entertainment Law Competition
Team Rosters
2024 – 2025
- Annalisa Jenrich
- Batsheva Levy
- Benjamin DeCarlo
- Deliliah Sadat
- Heather Hunter
- Jasmine Divas Villeda
- Jason Pitha
- Kaylina Castellanos
- Madison McCormick
- Meenal Patel
- Michelle Helbig
- Natalie Brown
- Raymond Vasquez
- Yasmine Berger
- Prof. William Aceves, Chief Justice Roger Traynor Professor of Law
- Prof. Emerita Roberta Thyfault, ‘84
- Kate Clark, ’10 – Adjunct Professor
- Sara Gros-Cloren – Adjunct Professor
- Grant Porter, ’15 – Adjunct Professor
- Eli Gaglio, ‘18
- Nathan Chisholm, ‘21
- Brooke Miles, ‘23
- Emily Reeves, ‘23
- Lynda Romero
Appellate Team
For more information about our Appellate Team, on-campus competitions, or the Competitive Advocacy Program, please email us at JavaScript Required.
San Diego, CA 92101