On January 30, 2025, Claire Housley and Emma Stinson were lauded as victorious in the 75th Annual Van Vleck Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition in front of an esteemed panel of justices, faculty, students, and their families. In addition, the justices awarded Claire and Emma the award of “Best Brief.”

In reflecting on their Van Vleck Moot Court Competition journey, neither Claire nor Emma anticipated qualifying for the finals- both wanted to “just get through” the initial rounds, and they did not even expect to advance to the second day of the competition. While both Constitutional and Administrative Law enticed the pair to participate in Van Vleck, the competition was largely uncharted territory for them- not only was it both Claire and Emma’s first Van Vleck competition, but it was Claire’s first oral advocacy competition since her 1L year.

Months of countless hours of work preparing their brief and oral arguments culminated in the final round of the competition. Claire and Emma felt immensely honored and grateful-albeit nervous- to argue before Justices Jackson, Barron, and Desai. Above all, the pair expressed mutual satisfaction with the partnership they fostered with one another, with Claire stating that working with Emma “was one of the best parts of her 3L year.”

When asked what advice they would give to 1L and 2L students regarding the decision to participate in oral advocacy and navigating competitions, Claire and Emma emphasized the preparation that oral advocacy competitions necessitate. Although exacting, they expressed their overall positive experience while encouraging students to enjoy every aspect of oral advocacy competitions.