1L Opening and Closing Competition

Washburn Law annually sponsors a 1L Opening and Closing Statement Competition.  This competition is exclusively for 1L students and allows them to test their advocacy skills early in their law school career, by providing the students with the opportunity to hear valuable feedback from real judges and attorneys who will evaluate their opening and closing statements. The top two finishers in the opening division and the top two finishers in the closing division are each given a prize.

What are the benefits of participating in the Competition?

First year students who participate in this competition are able to develop their basic initial skills in oral advocacy.  Students can measure their ability and utilize feedback to improve these skills as well as determine whether they want to move to more advanced advocacy competitions and teams. 

How does one become a member?

Try-outs and selections for the teams are held each Fall.  Information on the specific dates and process to try-out is sent out via e-mail to all students in advance of the particular team selection. 

How much time will participation require?

All students who participate on our competition teams will prepare for their competition with multiple practices each week in the month or months leading up to the particular competition.  The time and energy required varies, depending on each individual's preparation and work habits during the practice sessions.  Practices are scheduled to work with multiple student obligations and to students to successfully balance membership on the competition team with other demanding law school activities and outside obligations.

For more information on the 1L Opening and Closing Competition at Washburn Law contact us at:

Washburn University School of Law
Professor Joseph Mastrosimone
1700 SW College Avenue
Topeka, KS 66621
(785) 670-2460
adrcompetitions@washburn.edu