Law schools recruit local legal professionals to judge moot courts. This is an important part of the education process but it seems there's often a shortage of judge volunteers. I have advertised openings on http://4freeCLE.blogspot.com since there's free CLE involved, but haven't participated myself (except for once decades ago at WNEC), until today. UW had sent out an additional request for volunteers and I decided to give it a try.
The only negative was actually getting there, because the campus is not well built for driving; I would have been better off doing the bus perhaps. Once in the Law Center the whole thing was well organized and interesting. My panel included three others, all with trial experience, so we agreed unanimously that one of them would serve as Chief Judge, asking questions and ruling on motions; the rest of us observed, voted, and made comments at the end.
As the least experienced panel member, my comments came first. I could speak to the rhetorical technique, more than the law technique, and I feel my experience as a Toastmasters evaluator helped. My casual reference to my appellate work lead to some interesting after-program chat with one of the contestants who was a JAG in training.
I would recommend this program to any lawyer looking to give back to the community. It is an intense experience evaluating the demonstrated skill of each participant but you just don't know how much good you are doing for them, so long as you are honest about the areas in which I lack experience.
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