Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board
The Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board is a student-run, honorary organization that focuses on recruiting and training the finest oral and written advocates in the country and is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious advocacy program at the University of Miami School of Law. During the 2022-2023 academic year, the Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board ranked as the 3rd best Moot Court program in the nation, #1 on the East Coast, and #1 in Florida, our highest ranking in our program’s 70-year history. During the 2025-2026 academic year, the Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board ranked as the 3rd best moot court program in the nation and #1 in Florida.
The Moot Court Board was founded in 1953. Named in 2006 for the fifty-five-year member of the Florida Bar, former member of the Florida Legislature, and true “lawyer’s lawyer,” the Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board is committed to fostering and honing those qualities that its namesake represents: skill, passion, and excellence in advocacy. With the support of the University of Miami School of Law as well as alumni, judges and practitioners, the Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board strives to impart those skills on its current and future members through this unique program and incredible opportunity.
The Moot Court Board is grateful to these dedicated alumni, judges, practitioners and faculty who volunteer their time coaching and mooting our student teams. We thank them for their invaluable knowledge, experience and commitment. Each Summer, the Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board puts out a Summer newsletter to commerate and celebrate the many successes of that year. This year's volume is linked below and encapsulates the tremendous accomplishments of our board members.
John T. Gaubatz Moot Court Competition
The Gaubatz competition is the main moot court contest at Miami Law used to select the top twenty-five advocates for the Charles C. Papy Moot Court Board based on performance. Competitors argue their respective positions in front of three very distinguished judges.
- August 19: Information Session, 12:30–1:30 p.m.
- August 21: Brief Writing Workshop with Professor M. Torres, 1:00 p.m.
- August 23: Registration Deadline, 5:00 p.m.
- August 25: Problem Release
- September 2: Deadline for Competition Withdrawal and Clarification Questions, 5:00 p.m.
- September 20: Brief Submission Deadline, 5:00 p.m.
- October 13: Oral Argument Workshop, 12:30 p.m.
- October 24: Preliminary Rounds
- October 25: Knockout Rounds
- October 26: Final Round Practice, 6:30 p.m.
- October 27: Final Round
How to Join
Application to the Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board is open to second- and third-year students of the University of Miami School of Law who have demonstrated excellence in written and oral advocacy. Each fall semester, the Board hosts the John T. Gaubatz Competition to determine the incoming class of moot court board candidates. Participation in the Gaubatz Competition is open to those University of Miami School of Law students who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for second-year (2Ls) students or 3.2 or higher for third-year students (3Ls) by the registration deadline. Membership is then extended to the top 25 second-year law students as well as to those third-year law students who rank in the top 25 competitors overall.
The Gaubatz Competition is comprised of both a written and an oral component. Competitors register in pairs, file an appellate brief, and argue in at least two oral rounds. The top sixteen, two-person teams go on to compete in a single-elimination, bracketed competition, which culminates in a final, evening round that is open to all competitors, students, professors, alumni, and the general public.
