Written By Jos Weale, Managing Editor, All About Law

University of Law Team Win National Mooting Competition

Written By Jos Weale, Managing Editor, All About Law

A team from the University of Law have mooted their way to victory in an annual competition run by the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting (ICLR).

The final of the competition took place at the Law Society, and was the pinnacle of a completion that had consisted of four rounds. Bethan Hall and Gus Baker, both part-time Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) students at the University of Law beat teams from the City University London, the University of Cambridge, The Open University and the University of Oxford before meeting the University of Strathclyde team in the final.

The competition aims to develop the advocacy skills of aspiring solicitors and barristers. It’s open to all undergraduate and GDL students affiliated to a university law college in England and Wales.

Bethan said: “I think I can speak for both of us when I say that we are thrilled. The competition was indeed a challenge and we have been up against the strongest teams. Gus and I are a great team, having met at Bristol University, and this helped us push each other and win. In terms of legal skills, the competition was invaluable. Learning how to guide someone and express a complex idea in a simple way is a surprisingly difficult and incredibly valuable skill to learn. Speaking as someone who was terrified of public speaking a year ago, a mooting competition is a fantastic way to get over that and learn to guide a judge and discuss legal points.”

Louise Mawer, Operations Manager at The University of Law Bloomsbury, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Gus and Bethan. The University of Law encourages students to develop their professional, cognitive and practical skills through extra-curricular activities such as mooting. As part-time GDL students, Gus and Bethan have to manage their studies alongside work and other commitments. That they have been able to find the time and energy to work their way to the ICLR moot final, and win over strong competition, is a real testament to their determination and ability.”

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