Newly minted UBalt School of Law graduate Imran Shaukat, J.D. '12, says there are many things about his law school experience that he will remember. But chief among them may be the time he served as president of the school's Moot Court Board, which he described as "inspiring." Recently hired by Semmes, Bowen and Semmes as an associate, Shaukat was born in Columbia, Md., but grew up in England and currently holds dual American/British citizenship. Since he was a first-year full-time law student, he competed in the Warnken Moot Court Competition, placing fifth in his first year and competing on the National Appellate Advocacy Moot Court Team in both his second and third years of law school.
"As a 2L, I served on the Moot Court Board as moots chair," Shaukat says. "I was tasked with reaching out to local attorneys to serve as volunteers for our then 19 moot court teams. This year, 116 students competed in the Warnken Competition for the chance to be placed on one of 21 moot court teams at the University of Baltimore next year. I also served as symposium editor on the Executive Board of the University of Baltimore Law Review."
As symposium editor, Shaukat worked with the Clinical Law program to organize last year's Clinical Scholarship Symposium, and also worked with The Johns Hopkins University/University of Baltimore's Center for Medicine and Law to organize the March 2012 Health Care Symposium.
Shaukat received a 2012 Dean's Certificate for his many endeavors. He recently participated in a question and answer session focused on his work on the Moot Court Board.
This past academic year was particularly successful for the University of Baltimore School of Law's Moot Court Program. Could you highlight some key accomplishments?
Shaukat: I am extremely proud that the Moot Court program successfully implemented two new teams this year. First, the program added an additional National Moot Court Competition team. The National Competition is the oldest and most prestigious competition in the United States. Second, the program added an additional National Appellate Advocacy Competition team. The NAAC, which is sponsored by the American Bar Association Law Student Division, has over 200 teams that compete in six regions. By authorizing these two new teams, the School of Law continues to stand by its firm commitment to our first-tier Moot Court program.
I am also very proud that 116 students participated in this year’s intramural Byron L. Warnken Competition. The majority of these individuals were first-year students. By submitting a six-page brief and delivering a 10-minute argument to three-judge panels of practicing attorneys and judges, the students that apply for Moot Court go above and beyond the already hectic schedule of a law student. The commitment of these students to put in the effort of researching and writing a brief, as well as the courage to argue in front of actual legal practitioners, is admirable.
How has your time serving as President of the Moot Court Board contributed to your overall law school experience?
Serving as president of the Moot Court Board has been an absolute honor. In particular, working with the dedicated individuals that comprise the Moot Court Board has been tremendously gratifying. Although the efforts of our board members go largely unheralded, their hard work is inspiring. I have been extremely fortunate to work with people who care a tremendous amount about the UBalt School of Law. The opportunity to work so closely with an amazing group of people is an experience that I have cherished. Serving on the Moot Court Board has also enriched my law school experience by introducing me to the Maryland legal community. The opportunity to develop relationships with all members of the Moot Court family, from our outstanding coaches to our incredible volunteer judges, has allowed me to step outside the classroom and learn more about the community in which I will be practicing law.
What would you tell a student interested in participating in Moot Court at the University of Baltimore School of Law?
Everyday, Moot Court team members are given the opportunity to learn from and interact with some of the most respected lawyers in Maryland. From early fall to late spring, members of the Maryland legal community come to the school and volunteer their valuable time to help prepare Moot Court teams for competition. Our coaches and volunteer judges include attorneys from both the private and public sector, as well as judges from all levels of Maryland's trial and appellate courts. Our team members learn a great deal from the wealth of knowledge that our coaches and judges bring to the law school. By participating in Moot Court, you will obtain skills that cannot be learned in lecture halls or found in textbooks. The skills you will learn on Moot Court are endless: how to work with a team; how to present yourself in a courtroom, interview, or client meeting; how to answer even the most difficult questions with ease. It is no surprise that this experiential education is highly valued by employers. Not only will these skills stay with you for the rest of your professional life, but the relationships and friendships you will build with your team members and coaches will last even longer.