Advocacy Competition
In association with 4 Breams Buildings
The competition involves students undertaking a series of mock trials and pre-trial applications such as those relating to bail and character. The aim of the competition is to introduce undergraduates and GDL students to the more day-to-day advocacy activities/skills. It will allow participants the chance to learn and develop different practical skills to those that can be obtained through mooting alone, and which will be common from the outset of your future legal career.
Participants in the competition will undertake a mixture of pre-trial applications, such as bail applications and character applications, and mock trials where teams will be conducting examination-in-chief and cross-examination of a witness as well as delivering opening and closing speeches.
Teams will participate in preliminary matches against the same opponent, with the 10 highest scoring teams from these matches coming to UH to take part in the Finals Weekend. This weekend, which will be the 28th-30th June 2013, will consist of:
- An advocacy training session by an experienced, current practicing barrister and advocacy teacher
- A match against another team consisting of two pre-trial applications and a mock trial
- Competition dinner and talk from a Guest Speaker
- Semi-finals
- Final
- Awards ceremony and buffet
UH will supply all accommodation and breakfast over the course of the weekend.
Throughout the competition you will also have access to a ‘mentor’ who you can approach for advice regarding the particular activity that you are undertaking.
Prizes include:
- For the Winners – a mini-pupillage with 4 Breams Buildings, £250 of OUP book vouchers, a copy of Blackstone’s Criminal Practice, and individual trophies.
- For the runners-up - £150 of OUP book vouchers and individual trophies.
| October 2012 | Registration Opens |
| 10 Dec 2012 | Deadline for entry |
| 12 Dec 2012 | Draw for Preliminary Round 1 |
| 03 Jan 2013 | Papers released for Preliminary Round 1 |
| 13 Feb 2013 | Deadline Preliminary Round 1 |
| 01 Mar 2013 | Release of papers for Preliminary Round 2 |
| 15 Apr 2013 | Deadline Preliminary Round 2 |
| 01 June 2013 | Papers released for Finals Weekend |
| 29 June 2013 | Weekend Round 1 Matches |
| 29 June 2013 | Semi-final papers released |
| 30 June 2013 | Semi-final and Final |
Please note that a complete schedule for the Finals Weekend will be released prior to the weekend.
Further Information
For further information on the competition and booking details, please contact Neal Geach
Sponsors & acknowledgments
4 Breams Buildings
4 Breams Buildings is a leading set of chambers specialising in the practice of criminal law which, although based in London, has members who practise nationwide. Chambers is led by head of chambers Stuart Trimmer QC, who is widely recognised as a leading advocate in crime and related fields. Particular expertise within Chambers includes: white collar crime, serious fraud, revenue offences, regulatory offences, customs and excise, VAT, money laundering and the proceeds of crime legislation. In addition, their practice embraces all other fields of criminal law, including offences of murder, terrorism, drug trafficking, robbery, sexual offences, corporate manslaughter and offences of public disorder. They are also able to provide skilled representation in all courts from the magistrates’ court to the Supreme Court and in quasi-criminal jurisdictions such as the GMC, the Coroners’ court and in all forms of judicial inquiry.
Oxford University Press
OUP is the world’s largest university press with the widest global presence. It currently publishes more than 6,000 new publications a year, has offices in around fifty countries, and employs more than 5,000 people worldwide. It has become familiar to millions through a diverse publishing programme that includes scholarly works in all academic disciplines, bibles, music, school and college textbooks, children’s books, materials for teaching English as a foreign language, business books, dictionaries and reference books, and academic journals. They are multiple winners in recent years of the award for Publisher and Distributor of the Year at the Booksellers Association awards ceremony.
Criminal Bar Association
“The survival of the criminal Bar depends upon our ability to attract students who will develop into great advocates. The stress and strain of prosecuting or defending in serious criminal cases is difficult to reduce to the written page. The skill of the accomplished advocate emerges over time and with experience. Leading barristers chambers seek out those who have that spark of potential, in combination with an excellent academic record. Those who prevail in this competition will enjoy a significant advantage along the route towards a career at the Bar. The Criminal Bar Association is proud and pleased to support the National University Criminal Advocacy Competition. Good luck to all who take part.” - Max Hill Q.C., Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association 2011-2012
Further Acknowledgments
Further acknowledgments We would also like to acknowledge the help and support in the planning and running of the competition since its inception by:
- Nicholas Moss JP
- HHJ Peter Murphy of Woolwich Crown Court
- HHJ Bright Q.C., HHJ Gullick, HHJ Griffith and HHJ Warner of St Albans Crown Court
- Ken Aylett and Patrick Upward Q.C. of 4 Breams Buildings
- Stella White of Oxford University Press
All of whom are responsible for helping to make the competition possible.
UK Centre for Legal Education
We would also like to recognise the support and contribution of the UKCLE through the award of a grant which was made to help set-up the inaugural competition, and to aid its development in future years.