Saturday 28th June 2025
Plea in Mitigation Competition
Step into the courtroom
Join aspiring advocates from across the UK for the largest one-day plea in mitigation competition ever held nationwide. Taking place online via Zoom, this unique event challenges participants to deliver powerful, persuasive pleas in mitigation — a core courtroom skill for any future criminal barrister or solicitor.
Sponsored by BPP
Win great prizes
Champion Prize: iPad
Runner-Up Prize: £100 Voucher
One Day. One Chance. Do you have what it takes?
Secure your place now—tickets are limited!
Buy your ticket
Who can enter
This competition is open to anyone looking to develop their advocacy skills, including:
Undergraduate law and non-law students
Qualified solicitors
Masters, BPTC & LPC/SQE students & graduates
GDL students and graduates
Others at the discretion of the organisers - please contact us if you are interested
Open to students and graduates from all academic backgrounds, this competition offers a realistic, high-pressure advocacy experience judged by practising legal professionals. Think you’ve got what it takes to impress in just five minutes?
READY TO GIVE it a go?
Buy your ticket now!
Join the fastest growing mooting club in the UK
How it works
🧑⚖️
Format
Individual advocacy competition (no teams). Participants represent themselves, not their university. Open to all: law and non-law students, graduates, and early-career professionals
🗂️
The Bundle
Sent to all participants by 6:00 PM on Friday 27th June 2025. Includes everything you need — no research or drafting required. Designed to mimic real-world legal practice, where briefs often arrive at short notice
🕔
Your Submission
Each participant delivers a 5-minute oral plea in mitigation. Judges are practising barristers and solicitors. Assessed purely on oral advocacy — clarity, structure, delivery, and persuasive skill
🏆
The Experience
A fast-paced, one-day competition that tests your ability to think, prepare, and advocate under pressure. A valuable opportunity to practice a vital courtroom skill in a realistic setting
STILL NOT SURE?
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can attend?
The competition is open to law and non-law students, graduates, GDL, LPC, and BPTC students, as well as those pursuing other legal pathways. Entry is on an individual basis, and you do not represent a university, meaning multiple students from the same institution can participate.
How much preparation is required?
Minimal preparation is needed. You’ll receive the full bundle of case materials by 6:00 PM on Friday 27th June 2025 — the night before the competition. This simulates real legal practice where briefs often arrive late. No research or drafting is required; you’ll only be assessed on your oral advocacy during your 5-minute plea in mitigation.
What is the format of the competition?
The competition will take place entirely online via Zoom on Saturday 28th June 2025 and is structured to run in a single day:
Round 1: ~200 participants will be divided into 20 groups of 10, each with a judge or panel. The best performer from each group progresses.
Round 2: 20 winners are placed into 5 groups of 4. Again, one winner from each group progresses.
Final Round: 5 finalists compete in front of a panel of judges who decide the winner and runner-up. Every participant competes individually and represents themselves — not their university.
What are the prizes?
🏆 Winner: Apple iPad
🥈 Runner-up: £100 voucher
Both finalists will also receive recognition from a panel of practising legal professionals, with opportunities to enhance their CVs and networking profiles.
How much does it cost to enter?
The entry fee is £36.00. Please note this fee is non-refundable, regardless of attendance or outcome.
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Reviews
Nicholas Stone
Future Pupil Barrister and 2023 National Speed Mooting Competition Champion
"Speed Mooting was very helpful with getting pupillage, as the pupillage process tests how well you can make a case.
The Speed Mooting competition gave me a good chance to become a better speaker, and to gain more confidence in my abilities. It's a great opportunity to test yourself and improve.”
Liam Ainscough
Law Lecturer, University of Bolton
“The events I attended were insightful to the industry and mooting was fun and informative at the same time. I would highly recommend that undergraduate students attend the annual moot to not only increase their confidence, but to obtain skills that are desirable in practise. The NSMC team always provide more than enough information and the event is similar to the working paradigm of a barrister. As an academic, I always recommend these events to students.”
Mersede Mardani
Law Student
“Today I joined Speed Mooting's "Introduction to Mooting Course".
I must admit that prior to attending this course, I was not familiar with mooting or what a moot consists of. However, after participating in this course, I can confidently say that thanks to John Dove's incredibly informative presentation, I now thoroughly understand what a moot consists of, and I have the courage to apply this to a moot and experience it first-hand.
I look forward to putting into practice the knowledge I have gained today and continue to attend moots throughout my legal journey.”
