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.

28th Annual Esther Clark Competition

Photos from the 28th Annual Esther Clark Competition held at the Rhode Island Supreme Court on October 26, 2023

Elijah Santos: Esther Clark Competition Winner, Best Brief, Best On- and Off-Brief Performance, Best Oral Advocate.

Julia Keefe: Esther Clark Competition Finalist and Runnerup Best Brief.

Abby Cook (center) with Trial Team Members — Abby Cook: Runner up Best Oral Advocate and Runner up Best On- and Off-Brief Performance.

Esther Clark Competition view of finalist and gallery.

Esther Clark Competition. Another view of finalist and gallery — Esther Clark Competition view of finalist and gallery.

Esther Clark Competition view of bench and justices — Esther Clark Competition view of bench and judges.

Finalist with Dean Bowman and justices — Finalist with Dean Bowman and competition judges

Members of Trial Team with justices — Members of trial team with the competition judges.

Finalist with Dean Bowman and faculty advisors.

28th Annual Competition Winners

About Esther Clark

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The Esther Clark Competition is named after a
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.