National Order of Barristers

What is the National Order of Barristers?
The Order of Barristers is a national honorary organization chartered in 1970 and headquartered at the University of Texas. This honor recognizes, on a national basis, graduating law students who excelled as student advocates in written and oral advocacy activities and competitions—moot court, mock trial, and ADR.

Who is eligible to apply?
While anyone may apply, students are not likely to be successful unless they have participated in at least two (2) interscholastic competitions.

Students who have completed in at least two (2) interscholastic competitions should also participate in one or more of the following activities to distinguish themselves from similarly-situated candidates:
    1. Intramural competition
    2. Administration of an advocacy program
    3. Teaching program for brief writing/oral advocacy
    4. Brief writing and/or oral advocacy courses

Who selects the students?
A faculty committee meets in the spring of each year to select students who are within six (6) months of graduation (i.e., the committee will consider December 2007 and May 2008 graduates when it meets in the spring of 2008). Only graduating students or recent grads are eligible. Because the committee meets each spring, it is important for students graduating in December to remember to complete an application when they become available after graduation.

Names are sent to the National Order of Barristers during January, February, March, April, or May.

How many students are selected?
A maximum of ten (10) Barristers are selected each year.

What recognition is received?
Barristers will receive a certificate, gold and white graduation cords, the Barristers medallion, may order a statute of Justice, and are recognized at annual law school banquet or other awards ceremony.

What does it cost?
There is no fee. However, should a recipient choose to do so, ordering the optional statue of Justice is $165.00. Top How can I maximize my chances of being selected? Realize that you are competing for a maximum of ten (10) spots. Begin building your advocacy “résumé” now. Participate in as many events as you can. To better prepare you for what the faculty committee is looking for, the following is the information you will be asked to provide on the Order of Barristers Application:
1. Personal Information
2. Current GPA
3. All intramural competitions (i.e., competitions among other Texas Wesleyan students) in which you have participated—providing the name of the competition, semester, year, and rank for each.
4. All interscholastic competition teams (i.e., competitions with other schools) of which you were a member—providing the name of the competition, semester, year, and team rank for each.
5. All other relevant activities and dates:
a. Administration of advocacy organization (e.g., Member, Board Member, organized competitions, etc.);
b. Teaching Assistant for Legal Writing;
c. Oral Advocacy Recognition (e.g., Best Advocate, Best Brief, etc.);
d. Other oral advocacy activity / hearings (including Law Clinic); and/or e. Other factors that you believe
should be considered.

How can I apply?
The Order of Barristers Application will be posted on this site sometime during the Spring Semester of each year.