2022-2023 Semifinalist Profile: Emily Berman '23

Emily Berman is a 3L from Bethesda, Maryland. Emily represented the Appellee in both the Qualifying and Semifinal Rounds.

We asked Emily 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?

Berman: I had never done a real moot court competition before, so it was fun to simply go through the battle of in-person oral arguments for the first time. My 1L was almost fully on Zoom--including the foundation moot court--so I'm glad I got to experience the theatrics of an oral argument where I could just focus on the back-and-forth questions and not whether I had, say, remembered to mute myself.

Stone Director: What is the first thing you did after your last oral argument during the Qualifying Round?

Berman: My moot court partner and I went straight to Koronet pizza. There's no situation that can't be improved by immediately eating pizza, really.

Stone Director: Why did you choose to participate in the Stone Moot Court Competition?

Berman: A friend asked if I would! I'll probably never be a student again, so my philosophy has been to just say yes to most CLS-related opportunities that come my way. I had never done any sort of debate or moot court outside of the required 1L curriculum, so it seemed like an interesting challenge and also a way to get out of my legal comfort zone.

Congratulations, Emily!