Why You’re Not Improving at Advocacy (And What to Do About It)
The best advocates aren't necessarily the ones with the highest IQ; they’re the ones who know how to talk to a human being without sounding like a talking textbook.
You’ve spent three years (and a small fortune) learning how to think like a lawyer. You can recite the ratio of Donoghue v Stevenson in your sleep, and you’ve got a highlighter collection that would make a primary school teacher weep with joy. But when you stand up in front of a judge, something goes wrong. Your knees turn to jelly jelly and your voice goes up three octaves
If you feel like your advocacy skills have plateaued, don't worry. You’re not "bad" at it; you’re likely just falling into the same traps that claim 90% of law students. The good news? These are all fixable. The better news? Fixing them is actually quite fun once you stop taking yourself so seriously.
The "Safety Blanket" Syndrome: Reading from a Script
We’ve all been there. You’ve spent all night perfecting your submissions. Every "whereas" and "hitherto" is in its right place. You get to the lectern, and you decide to read it word-for-word because, hey, it’s safer that way, right?
Wrong.
Advocacy is a performance, but it’s also a conversation. When you read from a script, you stop being an advocate and start being a very expensive narrator. You lose your rhythm, you lose your personality, and most importantly, you lose the judge.
The Fix: Move to bullet points. If you can’t explain your point using three key words on a post-it note, you probably don’t understand the point well enough yet. Trust your brain, it’s actually quite good at forming sentences on the fly if you let it.
"My Lord, I’m Ignoring You": Not Listening to Judges
This is the big one. Most students treat judicial interventions (questions) like a nuisance, an annoying interruption to their carefully rehearsed speech.
In reality, a question from the bench is a gift. It is the judge telling you exactly what they are worried about. If you ignore the question or give a "I’ll get to that later" (the legal equivalent of "talk to the hand"), you are missing the chance to win the case right then and there.
The Fix: Stop. Breathe. Listen. The judge isn't trying to trip you up (well, usually); they’re trying to help you persuade them. If they ask about a specific case, don't just pivot back to your script. Dive into the deep end with them.
Why "Traditional" Mooting is Holding You Back
Here’s the controversial bit: traditional mooting competitions can sometimes be the worst place to actually improve at advocacy.
Think about it. You get one moot a term. You spend six weeks researching one niche point of law. You write a 10-page bundle. Then you stand up for 15 minutes, get judged by a terrifying barrister, and that’s it for the year. That’s like trying to learn to play the piano by only touching the keys once a year.
Advocacy is a muscle. If you don't use it, it withers. If you only use it under extreme, high-stakes pressure once a year, you’re going to be too stressed to actually learn anything from the experience.
The Speed Mooting Way: Volume Beats Perfection
At Speed Mooting, we do things differently. We believe that to get good, you need to fail. Often. And in a place where it doesn't matter if you do.
Our philosophy is simple: low pressure, high frequency.
Instead of one massive, terrifying competition, we focus on quick-fire sessions that get you on your feet and talking. We want you to make the mistakes here, with us, so you don't make them in front of a real judge or a training contract interview panel.
Introducing the Legal Skills Academy
If you’re nodding along thinking, "Yes, John, this is exactly what I need," then you need to check out our Legal Skills Academy.
We’ve moved away from the old-school, stuffy club model. The Legal Skills Academy is our all-in-one hub for aspiring lawyers who want to actually get better. It’s a supportive environment where the goal isn't just to "win" a moot, but to build the confidence that stays with you for your entire career.
In the Academy, we focus on:
Practical Advocacy: Getting you comfortable with "thinking on your feet" without a script.
Limited Preparation Required: This means you get to focus on the oral advocacy.
Consistency: Regular practice so that standing up to speak becomes as natural as ordering a coffee.
A Quick Morning Routine for Advocacy
Want a "pro tip" you can start tomorrow? Record yourself on your phone explaining a legal concept to someone who knows nothing about law. Watch it back.
It will be painful. You will realise you say "um" every three seconds. You will notice that you fiddle with your pen. But that's the point. Self-awareness is the first step to being a killer advocate.
If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough. And if you can’t watch yourself speak for 60 seconds without cringing, you can’t expect a judge to listen to you for 20 minutes.
You’ve Got This
Advocacy is a journey, not a destination. You’re going to have bad days. You’re going to have days where a judge asks you a question and your brain completely resets to factory settings. That’s okay. Even the most senior Silks started exactly where you are.
The difference between those who succeed and those who don't is simply the willingness to keep getting back up.
So, put down the script, look the (virtual) judge in the eye, and come join us in the Legal Skills Academy. We’ll have a laugh, we’ll probably get some law wrong, and by the end of it, you’ll be the advocate you were always meant to be.
See you at the next session!
