Esther Clark Competition

The Moot Court Board organizes and administers the annual intra-scholastic Esther Clark Moot Court Competition. Second-year Moot Court Board members compete in the Esther Clark Competition to maintain their position on the Moot Court Board.  The Esther Clark Competition requires advocates to author an appellate brief and compete in a series of arguments against their fellow second-year Moot Court Board members. The final round of the Esther Clark Competition is argued before the justices of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, who ultimately decide the winner.

Trent Huff
Winner: Trent Huff
Skyler Blackbird
Finalist and Best Overall Oral Advocate: Skyler Blackbird
Gabriella Armanious
Best Brief: Gabriella Armanious
Madi Wolf
Best On and Off Brief: Madi Wolf
Trent Huff
Skyler Blackbird
Gabriella Armanious
Madi Wolf

The Esther Clark Competition is named after a Esther Clark
deceased RWU Law professor, who joined Roger Williams Law faculty during its second year and taught Criminal Procedure and Evidence.  Professor Clark's impact on students went well beyond the classroom. Students voted Professor Clark “outstanding faculty member of the year” five times throughout her teaching career at Roger Williams. She believed that teaching was a twenty-four hour a day passion that went well beyond when students graduated. Professor Clark continued to assist her students after graduation.

Esther Clark graduated law school from Rutgers University Law in 1955. She was one of only two women in her class. She was also an associate editor of Law Review at the law school. After her graduation from law school, Clark became a criminal trial attorney at a time when there were very few women in that field.

Professor Clark’s determination and passion helped get RWU Law to where it is today. She helped the school grow and more importantly, helped pave the way for women in the profession of law. In recognition to her contributions to the School of Law, the Moot Court Board named the 2L Competition in her memory.

The following lists competition winners from 2007 to present: 

2025
Winner: Trent Huff
Finalist: Skyler Blackbird
Best Brief: Gabriella Armanious
Best Overall Oral Advocate: Skyler Blackbird
Best On and Off Brief: Madi Wolf
 

2024
Winner: Marriah Binek
Finalist: Vylia Omar
Best Brief: Mirrah Binek
Best Overall Oral Advocate: Caroline Stanton Chlaupek
Best On and Off Brief: Caroline Stanton Chlaupek

2023
Winner: Elijah Santos
Finalist: Julia Keefe
Best Brief: Elijah Santos
Best Overall Oral Advocate: Elijah Santos
Best On and Off Brief: Elijah Santos

2022
Winner: Pia Piscitelli
Finalist: Morgan Alger
Best Brief: Michaela Conley
Best Overall Oral Advocate: Aicha Elola
Best On and Off Brief: Hilary Levey Friedman

2021
Winner: Noelle Soares
Finalist: David Braga
Best Brief: Julissa Arce
Best Overall Oral Advocate: Penelope Murphy

2020
Winner: Jill Magnus
Finalist: Amanda Tramonte
Best Brief: Amanda Tramonte
Best Overall Oral Advocate: Jill Magnus

2019
Winner: Erin Ferry
Finalist: Amanda Nagim-Williams
Best Brief: Celina Andrade
Best Overall Oral Advocate: Sophia Weaver

2018
Winner: Crystal Peralta
Finalist: Luis Vargas
Best Brief: Luis Vargas
Best Overall Oral Advocate: Caitlyn Forrester-Johnson

2017
Winner: Ryan Gallagher
Finalist: Allison Regan
Best Brief: Brenna Riley

2016
Winner: Sean Clough
Finalist: Grace Dzilenski
Best Brief: Alexandra Rawson

2015
Winner: Katherine Berling
Finalist: Lindsey Langella
Best Brief: David Revens

2014
Winner: Brett Beaubien
Finalist: John Ryan Henry
Best Brief: Edward Pare

2013
Winner: Daniel Reilly
Finalist: Sydney Kirsch
Best Brief: Christopher Fragomeni

2012
Winner: Antonio Massa Viana
Finalist: Thomas Pagliarini
Best Brief: Jeffrey Sheehan

2011
Winner: Nicholas Nybo
Best Brief: Christa Harris

2010
Winner: Tolulope Kevin Olasanoye
Best Brief: Ezra Willey

2009
Winner: John Meara
Best Brief: Robert Cavanagh

2008
Winner: Craig Graham
Best Brief: Hala Furst

2007
Winner: Tyler J. Smith
Best Brief: Kyle Rocha

Images from the 29th Annual Esther Clark Competition in 2024

Images from the 28th Annual Esther Clark Competition in 2023

Images from the 27th Annual Esther Clark Competition in 2022

Images from the 26th Annual Esther Clark Competition in 2021

Images from the 25th Annual Esther Clark Competition in 2020

Images from the 24th Annual Esther Clark Competition in 2019

Images from the 23rd Annual Esther Clark Competition in 2018

Close Course Type Descriptions

Course Types

We have classified RWU Law classes under the following headers. One of the following course types will be attached to each course which will allow students to narrow down their search while looking for classes.

Core Course

Students in the first and second year are required to take classes covering the following aspects of the law—contracts, torts, property, criminal law, civil procedure, and constitutional law, evidence, and professional responsibility.  Along with these aspects, the core curriculum will develop legal reasoning skills.

Elective

After finishing the core curriculum the remaining coursework toward the degree is completed through upper level elective courses.  Students can choose courses that peak their interests or courses that go along with the track they are following.

Seminar

Seminars are classes where teachers and small groups of students focus on a specific topic and the students complete a substantial research paper.

Clinics/Externships

Inhouse Clinics and Clinical Externships legal education is law school training in which students participate in client representation under the supervision of a practicing attorney or law professor.  RWU Law's Clinical Programs offer unique and effective learning opportunities and the opportunity for practical experience while still in law school.