The National Speed Mooting Competition is the largest single day mooting competition nationwide. Read below for information about this year’s competition and on how to sign up.
This year’s materials have been prepared by a barrister and mooting expert from BPP University Law School.
About the competition
The National Speed Mooting Competition was initially founded by criminal lawyer, John Dove, in the 2012/2013 academic year. There have now been 11 annual competitions.
The National Speed Mooting Competition 2023 in partnership with BPP is open to:
– Law undergraduates and graduates;
– GDL students and graduates;
– Masters, BPTC and LPC students and graduates
– Those falling outside of the above parameters at the discretion of the organisers
Participants enter as individuals rather than teams and represent themselves and not their university. There is therefore no limit on the number of students that can enter from any given institution.
The moot problem will be based on a simple point of law. Submissions will be limited to 7 minutes per mooter (hence the name Speed Mooting). This will include the time for intervention. Judges are encouraged to ask only one question, unless there is a specific need for more questioning. The bundle will be sent to participants by no later than 6.00 pm on Friday 31st March 2023. By sending out the bundle the night before the competition, we are replicating the scenario in practice when a barrister or solicitor receives a later brief to appear in court the next day.
The bundle will include all case law and legislation. Pre drafted skeleton arguments will be included in the bundle. This means that the competition will not involve any drafting or legal research and mooters will be tested on their oral advocacy alone. The competition is judged by practising barristers and solicitors.
Competition format
The target size for each competition is 128 mooters. The competition will take place over the course of a single day. We will therefore go from having 128 competitors all the way to having a winner in a single day. This will work out as 7 knockout rounds for the winner.
Mooters will have seven minutes to present their submissions in the early rounds and 10 minutes in the semi final and final; hence the name speed mooting. This places huge emphasis on succinct, powerful arguments and avoiding verbosity. Throughout the day participants will be asked to present the case for either the Appellant or the Respondent and this will vary for participants from round to round. Judgments will be given at the end of each moot and some judges may even give feedback, which will allow participants to hone their advocacy skills throughout the day.
The day starts at 9 am and will be finished by 6pm, although will likely finish before this. If you are eliminated at any stage during the day, you are free to leave. If you are eliminated, you are more than welcome to stay for the additional features in the. afternoon and/or to watch the final.
Other Features on the Day
Prize
The winner will receive an iPad. The runner up will receive a £75.00 Amazon voucher.
Cost
The fee for entry to the competition is £35.00. The entry fee is non-refundable.
Sign Up
Founder of the National Speed Mooting Competition