The current U.S. Supreme Court term features major cases on gender-affirming care for minors, federal agency authority, firearms regulation, and religious liberty, along with significant questions about state power and administrative law. So far, the court has issued several decisions on employment and immigration law, with many high-profile cases still awaiting decision.
The Williams Institute hosts the premier national moot court competition dedicated exclusively to sexual orientation and gender identity law. The competition provides an opportunity for law student competitors to write an appellate brief on a current legal topic and argue the case before a panel of judges.
Past competitions examined the constitutionality of issues such as conversion therapy, religious exemptions in higher education, and access to gender-affirming care. This year's problem will address an asexual school librarian's rights under Title VII and the First Amendment.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Williams Institute is looking for student volunteers interested in serving as timekeepers for the morning rounds of the competition. All timekeepers will have the opportunity to watch two rounds of oral argument. Volunteers will be trained on the morning of the competition and do not need any prior experience. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
The Williams Institute is currently seeking attorneys, law professors, and sitting judges to serve as volunteer judges. We will provide judges with a bench brief, summary of issues and sample questions in advance of the competition. An optional educational session prior to the competition will summarize the legal issues raised by the problem. Judges are not required to grade competitor's briefs.
MCLE Credit
All judges may receive up to 3 hours of MCLE credit for participating in the competition.
Logistics
The competition will take place at UCLA School of Law on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Breakfast, lunch, and parking will be provided for participating judges.
Morning session: 9:00 AM to noon
Afternoon session: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
The Fine Print
UCLA School of Law is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider. This session is approved for 3 hours of MCLE credit.
The 2024 election will be a turning point for LGBTQ rights and LGBTQ voters make up a significant voting bloc. Join us for a discussion on the election of LGBTQ-supportive lawmakers, the political influence of LGBTQ voters, and the implications for our democracy and LGBTQ law and policy in the coming years.
Winners of the 2024 Dukeminier Awards are leading legal scholars shaping LGBTQ law and policy through their publications. Join our virtual event featuring their award-winning work. Co-hosted by UCLA Law’s Dukeminier Awards Journal. Co-sponsored by UCLA Law’s OUTLaw and QTPOCC.
This virtual event will feature Professor Scott Skinner-Thompson for "Identity by Committee," Professor Chan Tov McNamarah for "Cis-Woman-Protective Arguments," Professor Ari Waldman for "Disorderly Content," Professor Lisa Washington for "Weaponizing Fear," and 2023 Student Note Winner Alex Johnson for "Curious Continuity."
UCLA School of Law is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider. This session is approved for 1 hour of MCLE credit.
Across vast swaths of the United States, “legal vigilantism” is transforming how Americans work, have fun, study, love, and participate in the civic and political life of their communities and their country. Relying on PTA moms, soccer dads, abortion snitches, and heavily armed white nationalist militiamen, MAGA officials at the state and local levels are deputizing citizen culture warriors to intimidate, harass, and punish women, racial and religious minorities, and LGBTQ+ people who make dignity and equality demands that threaten white Christian political and cultural power.
Join Professors Jon Michaels and Lindsay Wiley, along with Shane Ball LAW ’26, to discuss Jon’s new book Vigilante Nation and explore what the resurgence in state-sponsored vigilantism means for our communities—and our democracy.
UCLA School of Law is a State Bar of California-approved MCLE provider. MCLE credit is available for this webinar.
Register here to attend online.
LGBTQ+ youth experience challenges in maintaining sufficient access to food. Community-based youth organizations often help address this need by providing emergency food, enrolling young people in safety net programs, assisting finding youth jobs and building careers, connecting youth with housing, and other long-term supports. Join us for a discussion of findings from recent research on LGBTQ+ youth food insecurity, strategies community organizations use to address food access, and current government programs that could help.
RSVP here
The Williams Institute's 2024 NYC Fall Salon will take place on Thursday, September 12 from 6:00-8:30 PM at the Meta office in Hudson Yards.
We invite you to join our discussion on the current state of LGBTQ+ law and policy and what’s at stake in the upcoming November election and beyond.For tickets to our 2024 NYC Fall Salon, please visit: https://bit.ly/NYCFallSalon24RSVP ends on September 4, 2024.
For more information, please contact Williamsdev@law.ucla.edu.