The Supreme Court was the venue for the Hughes Hall Mooting Competition this week as Hughes Law students followed the tradition of mooting as a key feature of Law studies. This year’s competition saw all first year Hughes Hall Law students and participants ranging from second and third year Tripos legal studies, LLM and even non–Law students taking part.
Andrew Hashim, President of the Hughes Hall Law Society commented: “The Hughes Hall Mooting Competition follows in the storied tradition of mooting as an integral part of legal education and represents the marriage of both academic and practical legal education.”
A moot court competition simulates a court hearing – usually an appeal against a final decision. Participants are presented with a problem which they must analyse, research and prepare written submissions for (known as Skeleton Arguments) before presenting oral arguments in a simulated court.
The Hughes Hall mooting competition commenced in October last year with a mooting workshop, where the rules and structure of the competition were explained. Participants were also provided with tips and advice from previous moot finalists, winners, and practicing barristers. This was then followed by 3 rounds, all with varied problem questions, from International Law, Criminal Law and Defamation. The rounds were judged by specialists in each field; students, alumni and last year’s finalists as well as His Honour Judge Moloney QC who graciously volunteered his time to judge the semi-final in our Gresham Court Study Space.
The competition culminated in students presenting oral arguments at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom on Wednesday 1st March, with the Rt Hon Sir Richard Aikens, former Lord Justice of Appeal, presiding. The room was delighted when The Right Hon the Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, President of the Supreme Court, stopped by to say a few words before the finalists – Senior Appellant Sophie Bird, Junior Appellant Harriet Stacey, Senior Respondent Karl Steenson and Junior Respondent Jack Williams debated on points of Tort Law. After careful deliberations, first year law Student Harriet Stacey was announced as the ultimate winner of the 2017 Hughes Hall Mooting Competition. The finalists and guests celebrated with a post-event reception in the grand building of the Supreme Court.
“The Hughes Hall Law Society is very proud of our participants who have shown tenacity, depth of legal knowledge, and poise under tough judicial questioning. Our finalists represent the very best of mooting at Hughes Hall and, indeed, across the University of Cambridge.” Andrew commented.
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Thank you to the Law Society Committee for all their hard work throughout the year. In particular the Master and Mistress of Moots, Joshua Richman and Lydia Yu Ling Wong.
Law Society Committee: President Andrew Hashim, Administrative Officer Luíza Leão Soares Pereira, Social Officer Lucas Saric, Master of Moots Joshua Richman, Mistress of Moots Lydia Yu Ling Wong and LLM/MCL Officer Gaby De Avila Machado.
Hughes Hall Law Society Members, Mooters and our Law Fellow with Rt Hon Sir Richard Aikens, former Lord Justice of Appeal (5th from the right) and The Right Hon the Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, President of the Supreme Court (middle).
More photos are available on our Facebook page.
