LAWS313 - Mooting and Advocacy

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

LAWS104 Foundations of Law and Legal Research

Unit rationale, description and aim

A moot court competition simulates a court hearing, in which participants analyse a problem, research the relevant law, prepare a written case, and present oral argument. The actual moot court is usually an appeal against a decision of a court of original jurisdiction. Therefore, it usually involves grounds of appeal that are argued by each side; an applicant/appellant and respondent. The skill of mooting enables students:

·     to engage with and think deeply about interesting and topical legal issues;

·     to develop their advocacy, legal research and writing skills;

·     to work closely with and learn from their peers; and

·     to participate in an authentic learning experience and through that learning, demonstrate your interest in advocacy and competence as an advocate.

The rationale of this unit is for you to develop your academic and practical skills through mooting so that you become a better advocate for your clients.

The aim of this unit is to allow you to bring your understanding of the doctrinal foundations of law, learned throughout your law degree, to the construction and delivery of an argument before a tribunal of fact. This will require you to research the particular area of law raised by the moot court question, write an authoritative and persuasive written case and present the arguments orally in a moot court before a moot court judge.