Syracuse University College of Law and the National Disabled Law Students Association (NDLSA) will co-host the National Disability Law Appellate Competition (NDLAC) virtually March 10-12, 2023.
This new advocacy competition will feature teams from law schools across the United States. The competition problem will cover a significant and timely legal issue in disability law and will consist of an appellate brief writing component and an oral argument component. The Syracuse Law’s Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society and the Disability Law Society are co-sponsors of the competition.
Each team may be comprised of two or three students. Teams will be assigned to represent either the petitioner or respondent and will write an appellate brief on behalf of that assigned party. During the preliminary rounds, each team will argue on behalf of each party. The highest-scoring teams will then move on to the quarterfinal round, the semifinal round, and ultimately the final round where a winning team will be decided.
STATEMENT FROM NDLSA ORGANIZERS ON THE PASSING OF JUDITH HEUMANN
“On Saturday, the world lost a true hero. Judith “Judy” Heumann was a lifelong advocate who played a pivotal role in the development and implementation of Section 504, the IDEA, the ADA, and the CRPD. As the next generation of disability advocates, we owe so much to this fearless trailblazer, and we will always work to ensure that there is ‘nothing about us without us.’ This weekend, the College of Law and NDLSA will be dedicating the National Disability Law Appellate Competition to Heumann. Her impact is global, and her loss is tremendous. May her memory be a blessing.”
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The competition will feature law schools from across the country, and oral arguments will be held virtually March 10–12, 2023.
* Invitations to compete are given out on a rolling basis until the field is complete.
* Teams may consist of up to 3 students.
* The Problem Statement and Rules will be posted between January 7 – 9, 2023.
The registration fee is $200.00
Questions about NDLAC? Please contact:
Todd Berger
Professor of Law
Director, Advocacy Programs
315.443.9552
taberger@syr.edu
Michael Schwartz
Associate Professor of Law
Director, Disability Rights Clinic
315.443.1976
maschwa01@syr.edu
Tyler Jefferies L’21
Competition Coordinator
925.550.0153
tmjeffer@ajjacobs