The Annual Michael Kirby Contract Law Moot Competition is hosted by Victoria Law School at Victoria University (VU).

This four-day annual competition is open to teams across Australia. It is one of the largest moot court competitions in Australia, and has been running since 2011. It is Australia’s only Contract Law Moot. Winners of this competition win prize money and usually go on to compete in international mooting competitions.

Mooting is the oldest form of legal training for law advocates. At many universities, mooting competitions can be selected as an elective unit in your undergraduate law degree.

The Kirby Moot demonstrates VU’s strong industry connections. It is a fixture in the legal calendar and has strong support from the County Court of Victoria, members of the Victorian Bar, various law firms and practical legal training institutions. Law professionals are invited to judge the rounds and provide feedback to students.

Kirby moot

Kirby Moot competition 2023

We are pleased to announce that the 11th Annual Kirby Contract Law Moot 2023 will run 25-28 September 2023.

This year’s competition will be conducted in-person at Victoria Law School, 295 Queen Street, City Campus. Only two teams per university will be eligible to register.

Further information will be provided soon.

Registration: Competitor & Teams

Registration costs $850 incl. GST per team.

Registrations and RSVPs:

  • Competitor and team registration open, Thursday 1 June - Friday 14 July
  • Judge registration open, 1 July - 21 August
  • Volunteer and observer registration open, 1 July - 21 August
  • RSVPs for the cocktail party closes, Friday 8 September.

Moot problem, clarifications and written responses:

  • Release of Moot problem, Monday 19 June
  • Clarification questions submissions close (email [email protected]), Friday 21 July, 11.55pm
  • Memoranda for claimant submissions close (email [email protected]), Friday 11 August, 11.55pm
  • Memoranda for respondent submissions due (respondent submissions can be generically written, email [email protected]), Monday 4 September, 11.59pm
  • Exchange of memoranda, Friday 8 September, 11.59pm.

In-person Moot and events:

  • Oral hearings in Melbourne (VU's College of Law & Justice, Queen Street, Melbourne), 25-28 September
  • The Annual Michael Kirby Oration Ceremony, Wednesday 27 September, 5.30pm
  • Semi-final 1, semi-final 2 and final, Thursday 28 September
  • Presentations and cocktail party, Thursday 28 September, 7pm.

Oration

Established in 2010, the annual Michael Kirby Justice Oration provides a platform for leaders within our community to share their experiences, deep understanding, knowledge and reflections on issues of justice.

This year, the Michael Kirby Justice Oration will be held on the evening of Wednesday 27 September 2023. More details to follow.

Panel at the Hon. Michael Kirby Contract Law Moot Court Competition.

Event sponsors

Past competitions

Congratulations to Macquarie University for winning the 10th Michael Kirby Contract Law Moot in September 2022. The competition was hosted by Victoria University College of Law & Justice and sponsored by Leo Cussen Centre for Law.

Oration

In 2022 the Michael Kirby Justice Oration was presented by the Hon. Dr Barry Jones, AC, FAA.

Congratulations to Bond University for winning the 9th Michael Kirby Contract Law Moot in August 2021. The competition was hosted by Victoria University College of Law & Justice and sponsored by Leo Cussen Centre for Law, the College of Law, Thomson-Reuters, LexisNexis and Oxford University Press.

Olivia Rankine from Bond University was the Best Oralist in the quarter, Semi-final and grand final rounds.

4 young female university students in professional dress, with blue skies and sandstone in the background

Download the award ceremony document.

The 9th Michael Kirby Contract Law Moot Grand Final (password t&DAYGS5).

Oration

In 2021 the Michael Kirby Justice Oration was presented by Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM, President, Australian Human Rights Commission.

In 2018 the Kirby Moot was held at VU's College of Law & Justice, Queen Street Melbourne.

In 2017, 27 teams from 17 universities competed in the moot.

The 2017 Kirby Moot grand final was held at the County Court, with a panel of judges.

View the 2017 winners.

Kirby moot

Contact us

The Kirby Moot will be held at our law facilities at 295 Queen Street, part of Victoria University's City Campus in Melbourne.

For more information contact Sue Pejic, Moot coordinator, by emailing [email protected].