Oral Advocacy

Oral Advocacy Thursday evening was the grand finale for our Legal Analysis and Writing classes this year. The last round of appellate brief arguments was held at the Multnomah County Courthouse in downtown Portland. Many weeks of hard work went into preparation of appellate briefs, and even more weeks of practicing oral arguments followed. There is nothing quite like putting on your best suit and standing at the podium in a courthouse, with a panel of judges hanging on every word. Nervousness is normal in such a situation, and I think everyone had some anxiety going in. I found mine mostly alleviated by observing my classmates’ arguments. As each of them argued, it helped to build my confidence that I, too, would be able to make a compelling presentation of my case. Although the arguments were truly brief, with only ten minutes allotted to each student, the opportunity to engage in such practice was a highlight of my first year in law school. Feeling prepared and confident, and delivering a solid performance, puts a big smile on one’s face. After the arguments were done, we stepped into the hall for a moment while the judges conferred; the relief and excitement were palpable. Each of us felt the sudden joy of accomplishment and the well-earned urge to relax. Following a quick de-brief on our performances, we all made our way to the after-party. This is where law students show their true colors, drinking, laughing, and making fun of themselves and one another. I arrived at the party with one more topic for the conversation than I expected – a parking ticket, left on my car while we were in the courtroom making our arguments. Somehow the parking enforcement folks completely missed the valid parking sticker on my vehicle. No problem. I’m actually looking forward to the opportunity to make my case.