Event Information 293347

Competition Information

The Shapero Cup Regional Moot Court Competition (the “Regional”) is scheduled for Monday, February 15, 2021. This year, to address concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic, the competition will take place entirely online.

The Regional features law schools from the Sixth Circuit and is designed, in part, to serve as formal practice for law school teams competing in the Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition, being held February 27 through March 1, 2021. The Regional is not a qualifying event or an elimination round for the Duberstein Competition.

For the Regional, teams do not need to submit briefs. Each team will argue twice in the preliminary rounds, once for the petitioner and once for the respondent. The four teams with the highest average score in the preliminary round will advance to the semifinal round. The winning teams of each semifinal round argument (based on score) will advance to the final round.

Awards will be presented at the Regional, which will include a trophy for the winning team and top oralist. Prominent bankruptcy practitioners will judge the preliminary rounds, and judges will judge the semifinal and final rounds. Teams will receive constructive input from the judges following each round.

Planning Committee

Rules

A. Qualifications

Any accredited law school located in the Sixth Circuit (Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee) may enter one or two teams to participate in the Regional.

B. Number and Composition of Teams

Each participating school may enter one or two teams in the Regional, composed of two or three students each. All team members must be enrolled at the school that they represent at the time of the competition.

C. Substitution of Team Members

There shall be no substitution of team members after the online registration is completed, except upon written permission from the Regional.

D. Briefs

Unlike the Duberstein Competition, there shall be no brief submissions for the Regional. Competitors are scored on oral advocacy only.

E. Arguments

1. Each team will argue twice in the preliminary rounds: once for the petitioner, and once for the respondent. The four teams with the highest average score in the preliminary rounds will advance to the semifinal round. Pairings for the semifinal round will be determined based on highest average score in the preliminary rounds. The team with the highest average score in the preliminary rounds will compete against the team with the fourth-highest average score, and the second- and third-highest-average-scoring teams in the preliminary rounds will compete against each other. The winning teams in the semifinal-round argument (based on their scores in the semifinal-round argument only) will advance to the final round.
2. Pairings in the preliminary round will be chosen at random, although effort will be made to ensure that two teams from the same school do not face each other in the preliminary rounds.
3. The Regional will take place on February 15, 2021, using an online Zoom platform.
4. Each team is limited to 30 minutes of oral argument per round. Two team members will argue in each round. The division of the 30 minutes allotted for oral argument may be made at the discretion of the team, but no team member shall be apportioned less than 10 minutes for oral argument. The petitioner may reserve up to three minutes of rebuttal time prior to the commencement of the argument. Teams that reserve rebuttal time shall notify the judges and/or bailiff on how to deduct rebuttal time. Time reserved for rebuttal shall be counted as part of the 30 minutes allotted for oral argument. Judges shall have the right to allow for additional time at their discretion.
5. The bailiff will have time cards that will indicate when 10, 5, 3 and 1 minute(s) of argument time remain, and when time has expired. In addition, the bailiff may use the chat function within Zoom to notify the competitors of the remaining time.

F. Online Competition Rules

1. General

   All teams are responsible for their internet and video-conferencing capabilities during the competition. Competitors are advised to download Zoom onto their computers and practice with the technology before February 15, 2021, if they are unfamiliar with it. Competitors are advised to disconnect all other devices other than the one used to connect to Zoom during the competition to eliminate competing sources of bandwidth.

   Each team member must join their competition room at least 10 minutes before the next round begins to give their information to the bailiff (including how much time the petitioner reserves for rebuttal), ensure proper internet connectivity, and ensure that both video and audio settings are working properly. All team members arguing during the round must keep their video on for the entire round and be visible throughout the entire round. Competitors must not make any distracting movements during arguments and must silence all other electronic devices.

2. Room Links and Passwords

   Communications will be sent to each team through email, including information such as the competition schedule, Zoom links and password, and certification forms. In addition, there will be a Regional Zoom Lobby where Regional staff will be located virtually for teams to ask questions or raise concerns. If teams have a private question, the Regional staff will create a breakout room for the team to speak to the Regional staff privately.

3. Zoom Setup
   
   1. Display Name: When entering the room, the two team members arguing must change their display name to First Name, Last Name, Team Number, and either (P) for petitioner or (R) for respondent. An example of the correct Display Name is below:
      

      John Smith - Team 40 (P)

   2. Gallery View vs. Speaker View: Competitors are advised to use Gallery View so that they may see all the judges and the bailiff keeping time on the same screen.
   3. Muting and Unmuting: Competitors must be on mute at all times during the competition except (1) to respond to the bailiff’s questions, (2) during the particular student’s argument and/or (3) during the post-argument period when the judges provide their feedback. The mute button is in the bottom-left corner of the Zoom window. To be clear, a student must be on mute when another member of his/her team is arguing.
   4. Virtual Backgrounds: The use of virtual backgrounds will not be permitted during the rounds. Team members should ensure that the room in which they will be arguing looks professional. Furthermore, team members must ensure that there is nothing in the room or in their display name that could identify the team’s school or location.
   5. Sound: Competitors may choose to use headphones during their argument. A headset is recommended to avoid feedback noises. (Headsets are earphones with built-in or auxiliary microphones [e.g., Airpods].) These options will not factor into the scoring of the oral arguments.
   6. Lighting: Competitors should make sure there is adequate lighting so that judges can see them. Competitors should avoid joining the round with the camera facing a window or bright lights behind the competitors.
4. During the Round
   
   1. Competitors Arguing from the Same Location: The two team members arguing during a round may be in the same physical room, but may not have any other individuals in the room with them when arguing.
   2. Dress Code: Competitors must be in full courtroom attire for their arguments. Competitors may choose to either sit or stand during their argument.
   3. Prepared Materials: Competitors may print their notes and keep them in front of themselves. Competitors may not tape notes to the wall or have them on their laptops.
5. Disruptions in Service and Cure Period

   In the event of a service disruption or Zoom failure, each team will receive a 10-minute cure period to allow competitors time to reconnect to the round. During this time, the bailiff will pause the round time. Time will resume when the competitor reconnects and resumes the argument. If a team member who is not arguing disconnects, the argument will continue, and the team member must reconnect as soon as possible.

   Each team will be granted no more than two opportunities to cure (per round, not per competitor). The second time a failure occurs, competitors will receive any remaining time left of the team’s 10-minute cure period. If a competitor is unable to reconnect after the second interruption, the competitor must use the call-in Zoom function to finish the round.

   If the Zoom room itself crashes, the bailiff will immediately stop the timer. The competitors should immediately return to the Regional Zoom Lobby and await further instructions. If the Regional staff is able to repair the connection within 10 minutes, they will do so. If they are unable to do so, the Regional staff will set up a new Zoom room. The competitor who was disrupted by the crash — but only for Zoom crashes caused by the system itself — will have 30 seconds added to their argument to reorganize their presentation.

6. Judges

   Judges will be instructed to connect to the Zoom room with their computers for both audio and video. Prior to the round, judges will be placed in a separate breakout room. When the round commences, judges will join the main room. After the arguments have concluded, the judges will be placed in a separate breakout room for deliberations. During this time, competitors will remain in the main room. If a judge’s internet connection falters or other technological difficulties occur, the round will not be stopped. The judge will be instructed to attempt to fix the issue, and if the judge cannot do so quickly, the judge will be instructed to call in and continue listening and asking questions over the phone.

G. Announcement of the Winning Team

The winner of the Regional will be announced at the Awards Reception after the Shapero Symposium Demonstration Argument.

H. Scoring

The scores for each round will be based solely on oral argument. Scoring is on a scale of 50-100, with 100 being the highest possible score.

I. Best Oral Advocate

The competitor with the highest mean (average) score for oral argument will be chosen as the best oral advocate. The winner of the Best Oral Advocate Award will be announced at the Awards Reception. In order to qualify for the Best Oral Advocate Award, an advocate must argue a minimum of two times; however, if a competitor argues three or four times, then the average of that competitor’s top two scores will be used to calculate that competitor’s score for purposes of determining the best oral advocate.

J. Attending Other Arguments

No team member, coach or faculty adviser of a team participating in the Regional may attend an argument of any other team during the preliminary rounds. The number of attendees to each preliminary-round argument is limited to the competing team members, their families, two coaches or two faculty advisors per team, and members of the Regional planning committee. All participants are encouraged to attend the semifinal and final-round arguments.

K. Communication During Round

There shall be no communication in any form from any member of the audience, including other team members sitting in the audience, once a round has begun.

L. Penalties/Rule Amendments

1. The Regional may assess such penalties, including disqualification, as it deems reasonable and appropriate for failure to comply with the foregoing rules. Any decisions, penalties or other actions taken by the Regional will be final and binding on all participants.
2. The Regional reserves the right to make and implement any further rules and procedures deemed advisable for the conduct of this event.

Competing Schools

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