National Speed Mooting Competition 2025
Sponsored by BPP

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. 

Click here to sign up

National Speed Mooting Competition 2025

Sat 5th April 2025

Taking place at:
BPP Manchester
St James's Building,
79 Oxford St,
Manchester,
M1 6FQ

9:00 am until 6:00 pm

About the competition

The National Speed Mooting Competition was initially founded by criminal barrister, John Dove, in the 2012/2013 academic year. There have now been 12 annual competitions. 

The National Speed Mooting Competition 2024 is open to:

– Law undergraduates and graduates;

– GDL students and graduates;

– Non-law 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 4th April 2024.  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 the 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

There will be a Q&A session with lawyers of varying degrees of experience that can provide advice on applications, interviews and life in practice. There will also be an advocacy exhibition. This will allow you to pick up useful tips on court advocacy. 
 
Lunch, Teas and Coffees
 
Lunch, teas and coffees will be provided on the day.
 

Mooting Guide

All entrants to the competition will be provided with a Mooting Guide drafted by the team here at Speed Mooting. This guide should provide useful hints and tips to assist you with your mooting both in this competition and elsewhere.

Prize

The winner will receive an iPad. The runner up will receive a £100.00 voucher. 

 

Cost  

The fee for entry to the competition is £39.00. The entry fee is non-refundable.

Sign Up

To sign up for the competition, click the link below. 

John Dove

Founder of the National Speed Mooting Competition