Mooting Competition

Unit code: LLW2011 | Study level: Undergraduate
12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
City Campus
BLB1114 - Legal Research Methods
BLB1102 - Contracts 1
Admission to this unit is by competitive application. The unit will be capped depending on the number of competitions offered from year to year. Criteria for selection will include course progression, marks in relevant units, experience or skills in mooting, debating or other advocacy experience. Applications are open in May of each year.
(Or equivalent to be determined by unit coordinator)
Overview
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Overview

A moot has been defined to involve a discussion of a hypothetical case as part of an academic exercise. Student participants are expected to construct their own knowledge, by conducting legal research and making an active effort to interpret and abstract meaning from case, statute and scholarly writings and relating this to the “simulated reality” provided by the mooting environment.



The situated or experiential learning environment provided by mooting enables students to find theoretical knowledge and apply it in a practical sense.



Students assume the role of advocates before a simulated bench. They research and prepare the case, draft and submit a written outline of argument, construct opposing arguments on the legal issues raised and present (and defend) those arguments before a simulated bench. Students perform the roles of both a solicitor, with respect to the outline of argument and factual investigation, as well as a barrister, with respect to the oral delivery of arguments.


Students will be allocated to teams for various external mooting competitions in which they will represent Victoria University, College of Law and Justice. These will vary from year to year, but may include: Michael Kirby Contract Law Moot; Deakin International Commercial Arbitration Moot; Administrative Appeals Tribunal Moot; Jessup Moot; International Maritime Law Moot; International Vis Moots and the International ADR Moot.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Critically analyse practical legal problems to identify the legal issues with a view to solving them;
  2. Research and analyse appropriate case law, legislation and secondary materials;
  3. Construct persuasive written summaries of complex legal arguments;
  4. Articulate complex legal arguments in a professional and persuasive manner, including responding to judges’ or arbitrators’ questions and rebutting opposing party arguments;
  5. Exemplify initiative and responsibility in both independent and collaborative contexts to critically analyse practical legal problems, conduct legal research, and construe and communicate complex legal arguments in written and oral form.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment type: Exercise
|
Grade: 10%
Team Agreement & Plan (1 A4 page) (group task)
Assessment type: Assignment
|
Grade: 40%
Team Written Memorandum for appellant/applicant and respondent (group task)
Assessment type: Presentation
|
Grade: 50%
Oral Presentation (individual assessment) ; graded in a practice moot before the competition

Required reading

Students are required to read the required text along with additional materials provided by the Unit Convenor. Additional Materials and instructions are supplied weekly by the Online Learning and Management System (VU Collaborate)

Guide to Mooting
Cassimatis, A E & Billings, P | Thomson Reuters

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