Welcome to the CBA Moot Court Competition

For 40 years, the Moot Court Committee of the Young Lawyers Section of The Chicago Bar Association ("CBA") has hosted an Annual Moot Court Competition. Participants from ABA-accredited law schools from around the country have the opportunity to hone their research, writing, and oral advocacy skills along with approximately 30 other teams. CBA members serve as volunteer brief graders and oral argument judges to give participants a real taste of courtroom practice.

Registration:

Registration for the 2026 Competition will open July 6.
If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please reach out to [email protected]. 
If you are faculty member or law student from ABA-accredited law school that is interested in being added to our mailing list for the Competition, please contact [email protected]. 

Competition Information:

The Competition will be held IN PERSON in downtown Chicago.
If necessary due to a public health emergency resurgence, the Competition will shift to a virtual format on the same dates. The CBA will keep all participants apprised of any changes regarding the Competition format.

All Competition participants, including team members, coaches, and spectators, are subject to the Courthouse's COVID-19 practices*
*The Courthouse reserves the right to revise their COVID-19 practices and the CBA will keep all participants apprised of any changes. 

Important Dates:

Team A registration begins July 6, 2026
Team B registration begins July 20, 2026
Problem and Competition Rules distributed to registered teams week of August 14, 2026*
Team Information Forms will be due on September 11, 2026*
Briefs due October 16, 2026*
*Dates subject to change

In-Person Oral Arguments are scheduled to take place as follows (times subject to change, depending on the Court's availability):
November 19- Preliminary Rounds 1 (5:30pm) and 2 (7:30pm) at the Dirksen Federal Building (219 S. Dearborn St.)
November 20- Preliminary Round 3 (5:30pm), announcement of advancing teams, Octo-Finals (8:00pm) at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse (219 S. Dearborn St.)
November 21- Quarter-Finals (9:00am), Semi-Finals (11:00am), Final Round  (12:30pm) at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse (219 S. Dearborn St.)

 

Team Documents:

Click here to view the 2025 Competition Rules and Procedures.
Click here to view Appendix A to the Rules and Procedures.
Click here to view Appendix B to the Rules and Procedures.
 

Hotel Information:  

 
The following hotels are located in the vicinity of the Loop (note: no group rate provided)
- The Wit Hotel (DoubleTree by Hilton)
- The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel 
- The Kimpton Gray (an IHG Hotel)