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Mooting
1. What is Mooting
Mooting is a fun opportunity to develop your advocacy skills, improve your confidence and learn more about the law by participating in a mock appeal.
Many people believe that only those who have experience in public speaking and debating will be able to present a legal case. However, the style of mooting is significantly different and no such experience is required!
The aim is to present a specific legal argument persuasively and succinctly in an effort to convince the judge(s) that your interpretation of that specific area of law is the better one. It does not matter whether the judge finds for or against you on the law. Participants are assessed on their advocacy skills, the quality of their argument and their legal research.
The format of a moot consists of four counsel (a junior and senior for each side). Each individual mooter is given a set period of time to present his/her case. During this time you will be expected to advance your arguments and answer any questions that the judge(s) may need answered.
2. What we do
The Mooting Committee endeavours to provide events and competitions of the highest quality on a regular basis throughout the year. We encourage participation at all levels and facilitate both internal and external competitions.
We run three main internal university competitions catering to mooters of all levels. Those with little or no experience are best advised to test their abilities in the Quadrant Chambers Fledglings Competition as this competition is only open to students who have not previously mooted at university level (ideal for first years!) For the more advanced, there is the prestigious Blackstone Chambers De Smith Competition and for something slightly different we also offer the Brick Court Team Competition. This year we will also be launching an inter-collegiate mooting competiton, which will run parallel but independently to the other three. For full details of all our competitions please see our ‘Internal Competitions’ page by selecting link on the left hand menu bar
Want to know more...?
Check out our infamous moot guide, which is available to download freely in .pdf format. The 'Cambridge University Mooting Guide' is an expertly crafted document compiled with the help of Essex Court Chambers. It runs through the essentials of mooting as well as containing general guidance and tips. This invaluable introductory guide is also available in hard copy at many of our events in Michaelmas Term.
3. Mooting Committee
Master of Moots - Ajay Ratan
Mistress of Moots - Samantha Osborne
Together, the master and mistress are responsible for the functioning of the Committee.
Contact them at masterofmoots@camlawsoc.com or mistressofmoots@camlawsoc.com
Mooting Sub-Committee
Quadrant Chambers Fledglings Competition
fledglingsmoot@camlawsoc.com
Andrew Aistrup
Molly Cox
Brick Court Team Competition
teammoot@camlawsoc.com
Antonia Hull
Oberon Kwok
Blackstone De Smith Competition
desmithmoot@camlawsoc.com
Claire Rogers
Adin Samson
Atkin Chambers Intercollegiate Competition
cuppersmoot@camlawsoc.com
Lucy Chambers
Chirag Shah
Chambers Moot Competition
Kate Browning
Will Day
4. Internal Competitions
a. The Quadrant Chambers Fledglings Moot
This competition is open to those who have not mooted before, or those who have only competed at college level, and is an ideal way to gain confidence and experience. Problems will be set exclusively on Part 1A topics from the Law Tripos (namely Tort and Criminal) and the final will be judged by barristers from Quadrant Chambers.
http://www.quadrantchambers.com/
b. The Blackstone Chambers De Smith Moot
Our most prestigious competition, open to all but targeted mainly at second and third years with some mooting experience. Individuals compete for the magnificent De Smith trophy, bequeathed to the Society by the family of the late Professor De Smith. Problems will be set almost exclusively on Part IB topics of the Law Tripos (namely Contract and Land). The final will be judged by leading barristers from Blackstone Chambers.
Enter at: tinyurl.com/desmithmoot
http://www.blackstonechambers.com/
c. The Brick Court Team Moot
Participants compete in teams of two of their own choosing, regardless of experience and college. However, problems will be set exclusively on Part IB topics of the Law Tripos. This is perhaps our most realistic competition as it involves working closely together to produce a winning team performance. The final will be judged by leading commercial and EU law barristers from Brick Court Chambers.
http://www.brickcourt.co.uk/
d. The Atkin Chambers Inter-collegiate Moot
Each participating college selects two mooters to enter, with the first round operating as a speed-moot basis and subsequent rounds in the normal format. The competition will not commence until Lent term so as to allow the colleges to hold their internal mooting competitions in Michaelmas. Problems in the first round will be on Part IA topics of the Law Tripos, with later rounds involving Part IB or Part II topics, depending on the degree of mooting experience.
http://www.atkinchambers.com/
e. The 20 Essex St Speed Moot
A speed moot is a fantastic introduction to mooting, and a wonderful way to
either get over those first moot nerves, or, have another opportunity for
that vital practice!
Enter at: tinyurl.com/29speedmoot
To sign up for any of these events, please email your interest and contact details to masterofmoots@camlawsoc.com or mistressofmoots@camlawsoc.com
5. External Competitions
This year it is envisaged that the University will enter teams in the following external competitions;
a. The OUP/ BPP National Mooting Competition
b. The Essex Court Chambers National Mooting Competition
c. The WLR Mooting Competition
d. The Varsity Moot
If you would like to participate in any of these competitions please contact Ajay Ratan at masterofmoots@camlawsoc.com
Click Here to download an entry form.
6. Mooting 2011/12
All events are in the Law Faculty.
2011
Judging Workshop
Wednesday 12th October
For LLM and PhD students interested in judging mooting competitions in Cambridge this year. This is not a particularly time-demanding role and we would rely on your support for all internal mooting competitions. No previous mooting experience is required.
Essex Court Chambers Mooting Workshop
Wednesday 19th October
Hosted by leading Commercial barristers from Essex Court Chambers, this essential introduction to mooting is useful for those new to mooting and equally for those wishing to brush up on their skills. The Cambridge Guide to Mooting, compiled with the help of Essex Court Chambers, will be available. The workshop includes an introduction to mooting, a demonstration moot and a workshop session discussing a moot problem with small groups of students. There is also an opportunity for refreshment and a chance to talk to members of Essex Court of varying seniority on an informal basis at the reception afterwards in the lower ground floor lobby. There is no need to book for this event and no preparation required. Simply turn up!
Address any queries to mistressofmoots@camlawsoc.com
20 Essex Street Speed Mooting
Saturday 29th October
Open to anyone at any level, speed mooting is a great chance to get involved and practice your advocacy skills with only a minimum time commitment. Instead of having a week to prepare your arguments, we’ll give you a few cases that you are permitted to use. You will have to construct an argument within three hours and moot it. Following the moot, you will receive individual feedback and advice from leading barristers at 20 Essex Street.
The event also presents an opportunity to meet a number of barristers of varying seniority, from new tenants to members of the pupillage committee, on an informal basis and discuss the life of a barrister and what chambers are looking for in potential applicants.
Address any queries to mistressofmoots@camlawsoc.com
Blackstone De Smith Mooting Competition First Round
Saturday 22nd October, Law Faculty
Our most prestigious competition, open to all but targeted mainly at second and third years with some mooting experience. Individuals compete for the magnificent De Smith trophy, bequeathed to the Society by the family of the late Professor De Smith. Problems will be set almost exclusively on Part IB topics of the Law Tripos (namely Contract and Land). The final will be judged by leading barristers from Blackstone Chambers.
Address any queries to desmithmoot@camlawsoc.com
Quadrant Chambers Fledglings Mooting Competition First Round
Saturday 5th November, Law Faculty
This competition is open to those who have not mooted before, or those who have only competed at college level, and is an ideal way to gain confidence and experience. Problems will be set exclusively on Part IA topics of the Law Tripos (namely Tort and Criminal) and the final will be judged by barristers from Quadrant Chambers.
Address any queries to fledglingsmoot@camlawsoc.com
Brick Court Team Mooting Competition First Round
Saturday 5th November, Law Faculty
Participants compete in teams of two of their own choosing, regardless of experience and college. However, problems will be set exclusively on Part IB topics of the Law Tripos. This is perhaps our most realistic competition as it involves working closely together to produce a winning team performance. The final will be judged by leading commercial and EU law barristers from Brick Court Chambers.
Address any queries to teammoot@camlawsoc.com
XXIV Old Buildings Speed Moot
Saturday 12th November, Law Faculty
Blackstone De Smith Mooting Competition Second Round
Saturday 19th November, Law Faculty
Quadrant Chambers Fledglings Mooting Competition Second Round
Saturday 26th November, Law Faculty
7. Sponsors
Herbert Smith
Pre-eminent in dispute resolution and with an outstanding reputation for
high value transactional advice, Herbert Smith LLP is a leading
international law firm. Its clients are prominent global and national
businesses that it serves from offices in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Alongside Herbert Smith's outstanding reputation in dispute resolution and
corporate work, the firm has leading practices in finance, real estate, and
employment, pensions and incentives. It is also acknowledged as a leader in
several industry sectors, including the energy and natural resources and
financial institutions sectors.
For further information on Herbert Smith's opportunities please visit
www.herbertsmith.com or email
graduate.recruitment@herbertsmith.com
Atkin Chambers
At Atkin Chambers, we aim to excel in our chosen sectors across both domestic and international markets.
Members of chambers are regularly instructed to advise and act as advocates in relation to some of the largest, most complex and high-profile domestic and international disputes in the fields of construction; engineering and infrastructure; energy, natural resources and utilities; IT and telecommunications; professional negligence; and shipbuilding. We are regular participants as advocates, advisers or as members of tribunals in the High Court or in domestic and international arbitrations. We also participate in all forms of alternative dispute resolution.
We set ourselves apart by choosing not to grow in size substantially, focusing instead on consolidating our position and offering excellence at all levels of seniority in our core sectors. We believe that remaining relatively compact and concentrating on these fields enables us to maintain the highest standards. It also means that we know each other well and pride ourselves on the relaxed and friendly atmosphere in chambers.
Visit their website at www.atkinchambers.com
Blackstone Chambers
Blackstone Chambers is a leading civil set with 86 barristers and 31 staff. Its reputation is founded upon the quality of specialist advocacy and advice offered by members of Chambers.
Chambers' formidable strengths lie in its principal areas of practice: commercial (including sports, media and entertainment), employment and EU, public law, human rights and public international law. This broad range of practice, delivering advice at the cutting edge of a number of legal areas, gives a fascinating background to pupillage and a wonderfully varied career as a practicing barrister thereafter. Blackstone Chambers was awarded "Chambers of the Year 2011" at the Lawyer Awards in June 2011.
Visit their website at www.blackstonechambers.com
Brick Court Chambers
Brick Court Chambers has long been a leading commercial set of Chambers. There are 76 tenants including 36 QCs. They also have particular expertise in EU/competition law with a strong team of EU/competition specialists and significant expertise in the fields of public law and human rights law. In all their practice areas, members of Chambers are regularly involved in the leading cases of the day.
Visit their website at www.brickcourt.co.uk
Quadrant Chambers
Quadrant Chambers is a leading set of chambers specialising in commercial law. We are based in London, in a beautiful building facing the Royal Courts of Justice and backing onto the Temple. We act as advocates in courts, tribunals and inquiries, and provide specialist legal advice to clients from around the world. We have a reputation for excellence in commercial litigation, arbitration, aviation, commodities, energy, insurance, reinsurance, shipping and sports law. Our work has a strong international flavour, and many of us are qualified to practice in other jurisdictions such as Australia, BVI, California, Germany, Hong Kong, New York and South Africa.
Visit their website at www.quadrantchambers.com
Essex Court Chambers
Essex Court Chambers is a leading set of Barristers' Chambers specialising in commercial, international and European law. Its members advise and act in a broad range of litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution worldwide. Their commitment and support to mooting has enabled us to produce the Cambridge University Guide to Mooting, and run the extremely useful and popular Mooting Workshop.
Visit their website at www.essexcourt.net
20 Essex Street Chambers
20 Essex Street is a leading and long-established set of commercial barristers' chambers whose members offer great breadth and depth of legal expertise and litigation experience. Members of chambers are instructed on behalf of individual, corporate and governmental clients from around the world to advise and appear as advocates in court or arbitration in relation to a broad range of commercial, EU, competition, human rights and public international law disputes. Chambers is also home to a number of highly respected domestic and international arbitrators and mediators, some of whom were previously judges either in the UK or overseas.
Visit their website at www.20essexst.com
Wilberforce Chambers
Wilberforce Chambers is a set of 49 barristers, including 23 QCs, based in Lincoln's Inn. We are well established as one of the pre-eminent Commercial Chancery sets but our expertise is by no means confined to cases which will be heard in the Chancery Division of the High Court.
Wilberforce Chambers offers above all expertise in commercial work. Most of our work can be described as being of a commercial nature even if it also falls within a narrower practice area. We are leaders in the fields of property, pensions, private client, trusts & taxation and professional liability.
Visit their website at www.wilberforce.co.uk/home/home.asp
XXIV Old Buildings
XXIV Old Buildings is widely recognised as one of the leading sets of chambers. Our barristers specialise in chancery and commercial litigation with a reputation for excellent advocacy and clear advice.
Our members are regularly involved in high-profile, legally complex and high-value cases, with a particular emphasis on cross-border litigation (reflected by our annex in Geneva). Members regularly advise and appear as advocates in offshore jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands, the BVI, the Channel Islands, Dubai, the Isle of Man, and Hong Kong.
Our work is diverse. We specialise in disputes arising in the following fields:
- trusts and estates
- company and financial services
- insolvency and corporate recovery
- commercial
- aviation
- property
- professional liability
Visit their website at www.xxiv.co.uk
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