Psychotherapy Techniques to Help with Oral Argument and Moot Court Nervousness

Posted on Posted in Study and Exam Tips

You’re about to walk into the moot court room to do your first law school oral argument. Your heart might be racing, palms sweaty, stomach queasy, hands shaking – all signs of nervousness or even anxiety. Feelings like these prior to and during public speaking are normal and happen even to practicing attorneys in real-life oral arguments. Principles from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may help you keep your nervousness in check. CBT is a therapy for treaty anxiety disorders. It involves recognizing the feelings of anxiety, self-correcting exaggerated thoughts about the stressful situation, and exploring feelings that contribute to unhealthy thoughts. You can apply these ideas from CBT the next time you experience nervousness before an oral argument or other public speaking event:

  • Acknowledge and discuss your nervousness. You might try talking about your nervousness with friends, professors, or counselors.
  • Correct unrealistic thoughts about the oral argument. The judges aren’t there to grill you for the sake of making you feel miserable. You have the opportunity to correct yourself if you misspeak. The physical distress that is a part of your nervousness will not last forever.
  • Incorporate deep breathing exercises to help you relax. There are books and exercises to help you develop this.
  • (Over)prepare. If you’re worried about not being prepared, prepare until you know the material in your sleep.
  • Expose yourself gradually to the experience. Try practicing your oral argument first in front of your professor instead of doing it for the first time in front of judges. Practice in the moor court room itself.
  • Remember that as a law student, you’re still a novice and mistakes are an important part of learning. Don’t compare yourself and your performance to what you see on TV or in the movies. This is unrealistic and demoralizing.
  • Admit to yourself that you’re nervous, but don’t dwell on it.

See Larry Cunningham, Using Principles from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Nervousness in Oral Argument or Moot Court, 15 Nevada Law Journal 586 (2015) [Full text through SSRN].

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