Stepping in front of the panel of judges in a classroom-turnedcourtroom for the oral argument competition Sunday, MSU College of Law student Amanda English tries not to look nervous.

English begins her argument. It is, verbatim, the words she practiced two days ago in front of her friends using a chair atop a recycling bin as her podium.

The competition is the pinnacle of the Research, Writing and Advocacy course, a requirement of all first-year law students, and a "rite of passage" for many students in law school, said course instructor Nancy Costello.

"You'll talk to people 20 years out of law school and they can remember what their oral argument was," Costello said.

Last week, English was one of 17 chosen of the 366 first-year law students to advance to the competition, and on Sunday, those students were narrowed down to two. Emily Duke and English were chosen as the semi-finalists to advance to the final competition Monday.

The entire semester is spent preparing to argue a set case during the class, Costello said.

"It's basically trying to prepare students for real life, for being a lawyer," she said. "Some people love to argue in front of everyone, and some look like they are about ready to pass out."

As Tim Jungclaus and Carrie Ihrig, also first-year students, peppered her with questions at the Friday practice, English stumbled over a word and laughed.

"I don't know how to answer that one," she said. The team discussed possible answers and continued. It was one of many practice arguments English had given throughout the week in preparation for the semi-final round of arguments.

At the Sunday competition, students had to present both arguments and counter-arguments surrounding a mock First Amendment case.

"The students' capability and preparation were outstanding," said Ann Meloche, a law school alumna and private practice lawyer. Meloche, who was one of the judges, was second in her class for the oral competitions in 1978, she said.

"This is a tough competition," she said. "I remember preparing for mine."

English plans to cram in some last-minute preparation for the final competition.

"I'm stunned I made it this far," she said.

The final competition will take place at 5 p.m. in the MSU College of Law's Moot Court in front of a panel of Michigan judges.

The oral arguments will be open to the public.