Each year USALSA holds a moot competition for first year law students. This competition is held in the middle of Trimester 3. The purpose and aim of this competition is to enable first year students to ‘dip their toes in the water’. By doing so, students are able to develop the skills required in mooting. These skills are integral to some courses completed at UniSA and to work as a lawyer. Some of these skills include: the ability to logically structure an argument; to able to understand the strengths and weaknesses of one’s own arguments; public speaking; and advocacy skills. These skills are very important to master, and this competition allows first year students the opportunity to attempt to learn them, whilst in a friendly environment. Training is provided before the competition by either a competent and experienced later year student or a practicing lawyer.

 

The 2015 First Year Moot was a great success. Stay tuned for details about the 2016 event.

 

 

A brief guide on Mooting

Jake Collins - Competitions Director

 

 

The key to doing well in a moot is to be persuasive. To be able to persuade the bench that your submission is the submission that is correct and should be followed. There are a number of things one can do to be more persuasive. These are outlined below.

 

• Be yourself and be comfortable when on your feet at the lectern. You are most persuasive when you are being yourself. So don’t try to be anyone else. It is easier to be yourself when you’re comfortable.

• Preparation is vital. Your preparation should be enough that you know your submission back to front. Know what your client is hoping to achieve. Know the strengths and weaknesses of your case, so you are able to answer any questions you may receive from the bench. Good preparation will ensure that you sound like you know what you are talking about. Poor preparation will it make sound like you don’t know what you are talking about. So prepare.

• Be confident. Even if you’re not confident, fake it. If you act confident, you will feel and sound confident. However, do not be arrogant.

• Practice. Practice your submissions before the moot. Especially if you are going to be using words that are new to you or are difficult to pronounce. It is not a good look to incorrectly pronounce words. Practice will also let you know if something does not sound that good and needs to be reworded.

• Speak clearly and with eye contact. No one wants to listen to someone who is hard to understand and won’t look at them.

• Last but not least have fun!