You might have come across the news that students of Dhaka University have made history by winning The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, which is also known as the World Cup of Mooting or a Grand Slam Moot.
Do you have any idea about what mooting is? Have you wondered what the impact of mooting might be on your career?
Think no more!
In this blog, I will try to introduce mooting to you in detail.
What Is Mooting?
Mooting is a crucial part of legal education, and it helps students to get ready for the future practice of law. During mooting, students examine a legal issue, research relevant laws, craft arguments, and present their case to a judge. Moot problems are frequently based on issues of law that are still up for debate or are the subject of recent developments. Mooting puts students’ legal knowledge and argumentative abilities to the test. It differs from debate or mock trials since the emphasis is on legal arguments rather than the evaluation of the facts.
How It Works:
In mooting, a scenario like court is created, where students act like Advocates and present their arguments of each side (Plaintiff and Defendant). They rely on evidence to support their positions and strive to convince the judge of their stance. Moreover, Judges try to give feedback and ask questions on the point of law to rectify the mooters. As a result of mooting students get the chance to improve their skills which will help them to practice law.
The legal curricula in Bangladesh usually do not have mooting courses; however, they encourage the same through various competitions.
Thinking and Research:
Law students must have good research abilities to tackle debatable legal matters. They must fully comprehend the case problem, go deep into the details, and understand the core of their argument. To fully understand their position, one must do extensive research on the given case-related area of law. Engagement with legal issues and critical thinking are essential to presenting the case in front of the bench. Students must refer to relevant case law and statutes and justify their relevance. While preparation requires time and effort, speed moots often need less time.
Preparing Notes:
Before the actual moot competition, Students need to submit the key arguments, which are also known as skeleton arguments. From this submission, the standpoint of the team in the moot can be clearly understood. However, while making notes for giving the speech, students should keep in mind that they should not write the whole speech. Cause in mooting a student’s job is not to read out pre-written speech. They need to answer impromptu questions from judges, so it is better to make the keynotes. A natural flow of argument is expected from the oralist.
Delivering a Moot:
Oralists must be convincing public speakers. To express his essential ideas, he must talk deliberately, clearly, firmly, and loudly. Mooters must address the judge in the accepted courtroom approach, including remembering to address the judge with the correct title, speak clearly and in good English, and maintain eye contact.
The Advantages of Mooting Are as Follows:
- Networking
- Researching and Writing Skills
- Building Confidence
- Practical Knowledge
- Teamwork
How is mooting organized?
Most university law schools have a mooting club and from those clubs, students can learn and participate in moots. Among everybody, only the skilled mooters are selected to represent the university in national and international moot competitions.
Impact of Mooting on Career:
- The mooting experience may assist students in obtaining a pupillage or training contract following their LLB, which is especially important for those wishing to become barristers or solicitor advocates.
- Experience of Mooting helps students to get scholarships for doing master’s degrees in renowned world-class universities. It upskills the mooter and makes his/her CV strong and competitive.
- If a legal student decides to pursue a career in academia, mooting will help him become a better researcher and educator.
- The moot court competition connects the next generation of law students with legal experts.
- Legal education has both academic and practical components, and mooting assists students in the practical aspects of the legal field.
There are times when all these things cause a great amount of stress, but most students find mooting to be rewarding and engaging, both intellectually and mentally. As, in the world of law, very few things can offer as much fun and excitement alongside knowledge as mooting does.
So, if you are a law student, do not wait any longer. Set your goal now and step into the world of moot court competitions. Let the world see what you can do!
To read more blogs, click here.
Writer,
Sumaiya Islam Sonali
Intern,
Content Writing Department
YSSE