2022-2023 Semifinalist Profile: Abby Flanigan '23

Abby Flanigan is a 3L from Salt Lake City, Utah. Abby represented the Appellee in both the Qualifying and Semifinal Rounds, and will continue to do so in the Final Round.

We asked Abby a few questions about her experience competing in the Stone Moot Court Competition this year:

Stone Director: What has been your favorite part of the Stone Competition so far?

Flanigan: The oral arguments! The competition requires you not to discuss the issue with anyone but your partner before oral arguments begin, so after spending so much time researching an issue and writing about it alone, it was fun to have to defend my position in front of other people who knew the issue inside and out. The judges's questions helped me to hone my argument.

Stone Director: What other moot court experiences have you had and how has that/have those prepared you for this competition? What is different (either about the competition or about yourself)?

Flanigan: The Foundation Moot Court during 1L. I definitely leaned on some of the lessons I learned from my LPW class while I was writing my brief. It was also helpful to have had some experience doing an oral argument before this, but it felt very different because during 1L my oral argument was conducted entirely over Zoom. After a virtual 1L year it feels really good to have the opportunity to do these things in person.

Congratulations, Abby, and good luck in the Final Round!