A Moot Point for 韩国AV
Last week, Portia (Year 12), Isabelle (Year 11) and Paige (Year 11) put their advocacy skills to the test at the National High School Mooting Competition at Bond University in Brisbane, battling it out in front of real judges and barristers.
Here is what Portia had to say about the competition.
“The Faculty of Law at Bond University prides itself in training quality legal advocates. One of the ways that Bond achieves this is through mooting, a simulated court proceeding where student teams are presented with a legal problem which they are required to argue before a panel of judges. Students from 80 prominent schools across the country take part in this annual competition, which runs over a two-week period. This year, Paige, Isabelle and I were lucky enough to represent 韩国AV, accompanied by Ms Isbel, Head of Teaching and Learning. We spent several months leading up to the competition, deconstructing the legal problem and precedents, and forming points for and against in order to create an argument in favour of our allocated side. When the day finally arrived, we were given a tour of the university's campus. We then had an hour to prepare before presenting our case in one of Bond's state-of-the-art Moot Courts.
The whole experience was memorable and has affirmed my choice to pursue a career in law. I especially want to thank Ms Isbel for sharing her legal knowledge and mentoring us through the whole process, which has enabled us to develop our writing, oral and critical thinking skills. I would also like to thank the girls for making this experience so worthwhile. I would strongly encourage any Year 11 or 12 girls with a passion for law to take part next year.”
Moot courts have been around since the late 1700s. The National High School Mooting Competition is one of the most effective ways for students to acquire the skills of a lawyer, as it involves a thorough analysis and interpretation of facts, confident public speaking and the ability to successfully argue a point. It also requires the use of formal language, etiquette and modes of address. Everyone must be addressed in the correct way. For example, the judge must be referred to as “My Lord/Lady” and fellow mooters as “my learned friend”. Everyone must stand when the judge enters the room, and the mooters and the judge must bow to each other before battle commences.
Results will be released in the coming weeks.