{"id":261,"date":"2011-01-27T22:12:04","date_gmt":"2011-01-27T22:12:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hlsorgs.com\/bsa\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T17:39:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T17:39:58","slug":"qualifying-round","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/bsa\/ames-competition\/qualifying-round\/","title":{"rendered":"Ames Qualifying Round"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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<\/div>\n

Ames Qualifying Round<\/h1>\n
<\/div>\n

The Qualifying Round is the first round of the upper-level Ames Competition, open each fall to the entire 2L class. Teams brief and argue a hypothetical appellate case, with four teams advancing to the Semi-Final Round in the spring.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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About the Round<\/p>\n

Eligibility and teams<\/h2>\n

All students enrolled in their first year of post-1L law school courses are eligible to compete. In Phase One, each team consists of four students.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n

2026 Interest Form & Information Session<\/h2>\n

Sign up through the interest form to receive updates about the Qualifying Round and find teammates if you do not yet have a full team.<\/p>\n\n

The Upper-Level Ames Committee will also hold an information session on how the round works, the problem, and how to form a team.<\/p>\n\n

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Information Session<\/div>\n
Thursday, September 10<\/div>\n
12:30 PM · Pound 100<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n Interest Form Coming Soon<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
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How It Works<\/p>\n

The Two Phases<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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Phase One<\/div>\n
The Appellant Brief<\/div>\n

Every registered team submits an Appellant Brief on the Qualifying Round problem. Sixteen teams advance to Phase Two. Teams that do not advance do not present oral argument.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Phase Two<\/div>\n
The Appellee Brief & Oral Argument<\/div>\n

The sixteen advancing teams submit an Appellee Brief and present oral argument before panels of HLS faculty, practitioners, and 3L BSAs in November. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n

Preparing Your Brief<\/p>\n

The Ames Brief Archive<\/h3>\n

Briefs from past Ames competitions, available as a resource for competitors. Available to all current HLS students.<\/p>\n The Archive \u2192<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n

Questions about Qualifying Round?
Email the Ames Committee at amesHLS@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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