Mooting
The University of Buckingham is keen to foster in its students an enthusiasm for activities which nurture the ‘practical’ as well as the ‘academic’ legal skills. To this end mooting is the ideal endeavour, combining the art of constructing a legal argument in response to a difficult legal problem with the oral presentation of that argument before a judge, thus developing advocacy skills which are an essential tool for any student of law aiming for a career in legal practice. In an effort to replicate the formality of a real courtroom the student mooters all wear gowns which have been generously provided at a very substantial discount for the Law School’s benefit by Ede & Ravenscroft.
Students are actively encouraged to participate in both internal and national mooting competitions. The students are well supported in this pursuit both by very enthusiastic, dedicated officers of the Student Law Society Committee and a staff member, presently Dr Gregory Ioannidis who fulfills the role of Master of Moots. Further support is provided by student volunteers who assist with legal research in relation to the moot problems.
Autumn Term 2011 mooting
Selvyn Hawkins and Kimberleigh Malyan
In the ICLR Annual Mooting Competition 2011-12, the Buckingham team of Selvyn Hawkins and Kimberleigh Malyan won their first round match away to St John’s College, Oxford, on 10 November. Read full report. They then beat the University of Exeter at home in the second round on 9 December, and are now in the quarter-finals. In the OUP-BPP National Mooting Competition, the Buckingham team of Mark Flowers and Samuel Brown won their first round match against Exeter on the same date. Read full report.
Summer Term 2011 mooting
Earla Dyer (clerk), Samuel Brown, Roxanne Amihere, Mr William Cofie, Shital Ordernine, Alan Gordon
On 3 August a team of Law students participated in the second set of moots held by the Student Law Society as a part of a series of competitions. The case was judged by Mr William Cofie. Representing the appellants in this court hearing were Alan Gordon and Shital Odedra, and the respondents were represented by Samuel Brown and Roxanne Amihere.
The case before the courts was a difficult one, concerning contract law with particular emphasis on exclusion clauses. Mr Cofie said that he was impressed by the submissions of both sides, and found both sides equally skilled; however, he ultimately decided that he was convinced by the exploitation of the law provided by the appellants, and thus, awarded them the victory in the moot.
The Negotiation Competition
Buckingham Law School has maintained an exceptionally strong showing in the National Negotiation Competition. The competition promotes greater interest among law students in legal negotiation and provides a means for them to practice and improve their negotiation skills. The Negotiation Competition promotes legal negotiation skills which LPCs, BVCs and law firms take note of when selecting trainees. The simulations consist of:
- common set of facts known by all the participants
- confidential information known only to the participants representing a particular side.
The competition is conducted within law schools, at a regional level (among teams representing their respective law schools in the region) and at the national level (for teams qualifying for the final competition) in which law students, acting as lawyers, negotiate a series of legal / commercial issues. The winners of the National Competition represent England & Wales in the International Negotiation Competition.
Buckingham’s internal selection process for the next competition will take place in January 2010. Five students will be selected by a panel of judges composed of members of the teaching staff in the Law School. These students will represent the Law School in the 2010 National Competition.
For more information, visit The Negotiation Competition CEDR website (external link).
