Mooting Mistakes

Top 5 Mistakes I Made in My First Moot – And What I Learned

Walking into my first moot, I thought I was ready. I had memorised my arguments, printed everything off in triplicate, and even practised saying “My Lord” without cringing. But as soon as the round began, I realised mooting isn’t just about knowing the law; it's about how you present your arguments.

Here are the top 5 mistakes I made and the lessons that I learned from them. 

1. I Wrote an Essay, Not a Submission

In my first moot, I read my speech word-for-word, like I was reciting coursework. The result? It sounded scripted, robotic, and completely disengaged from the judge.

What I learned: Mooting is advocacy, not academia. Judges want to hear arguments, not a lecture.

2. I Didn't Listen to the Judge

I was so focused on getting through my script that I completely missed the judge trying to ask me a question.

What I learned: Mooting is a conversation, not a performance. Eye contact matters. Listening matters. Pausing matters. Now I'm in practice and I know better, I treat questions as opportunities, not interruptions.

3. I Tried to Cover Everything - Badly!

I crammed in every case I could find. The problem? I barely explained any of them. I mentioned names and citations without context, hoping to sound impressive, but the Judge saw right through me.  

What I learned: Depth beats breadth. It's better to have two strong authorities that you understand and can apply well than ten that you skim over.

4. I Didn’t Practise Under Pressure

I rehearsed my speech out loud,  to myself, in my room. Alone. Whilst that is a good place to start, what I didn’t do was practise in front of others or simulate the nerves of the real thing.

What I learned: Confidence is a muscle. Advocacy Club sessions and advocacy competitions can help you get used to the pressure. The more you practise under realistic conditions, the calmer you’ll be in front of the judge. 

5. I Took the Result Too Personally

We lost the moot, and I was gutted. I felt like I’d failed and questioned whether I was cut out for the Bar.

What I learned: Feedback is gold. Every advocate improves by learning from experience, not by winning every round. Even as a practicing barrister, I know that I wont win every case. But now I treat each one as training, not a test.

Final Thoughts

Your first moot will never be perfect and that’s okay. The goal isn’t to impress; it’s to improve. Every slip-up becomes a stepping stone. And with the right support, practice, and reflection, your advocacy skills will grow.

See you in court!