Mooting Competition

A moot is defined as a discussion of a hypothetical case undertaken as 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 cases, statutes 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 to complete the assessment in this unit. The assessments are designed to equip students with the practical advocacy, research and teamwork skills required for mooting. Through this preparation, students may have the opportunity to participate in either external mooting competitions and/or internal mooting competitions conducted within Victoria University. External competitions vary from year to year but may include the Michael Kirby Contract Law Moot, Deakin International Commercial Arbitration Moot, Administrative Appeals Tribunal Moot, Jessup Moot, International Maritime Law Moot, International Vis Moot, and the International ADR Moot.