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Mooting

If you’re aiming for a career as a barrister or solicitor, mooting is an essential, empowering experience that builds the advocacy skills you’ll need.

In fact, it’s probably the closest you’ll get to working in a real-life courtroom environment while you’re still at university. At Hertfordshire, mooting sessions are held in our impressive replica Crown courtroom.

What does the course involve?

It’s all about advocacy – developing the skills to advocate powerfully and effectively on behalf of your future clients. A moot simulates an appeal court hearing, where both appellants and respondents make written and oral submissions in front of a judge or panel of judges, with the aim of reversing the findings of a previous court decision. It’s an effective way to gain practical, hands-on experience and get a feel for what a career in the courtroom could be like.

How does it build on my degree studies?

Mock trials are a key part of our law degrees, but mooting is an opportunity to take this experience further, giving you a much more comprehensive, detailed understanding of legal material, approaches and litigation strategy. It also goes beyond core subjects, with the chance to explore topical issues and interesting areas like maritime and nuclear law. You’ll learn the language of mooting and be able to join our student mooting committee. There’s also the opportunity to compete in respected national and international events like the Jessup and Finlay Moot Competitions.

What new skills will it give me?

You’ll strengthen your problem-solving and public-speaking skills, learning to use legal material in a practical, persuasive way to argue your client’s case. You’ll also build confidence and certainty in your own legal judgement and capabilities as an advisor. The course will deepen your understanding of the law and how to interpret and use it effectively in the courtroom. It will also develop your time-management and legal research skills, as well as contributing towards your Go Herts Award.

How can it help me open new doors?

The personal motivation, commitment and confidence mooting requires can help you stand out when it comes to finding a graduate job or securing a future scholarship. Students on the course often earn work experience with barristers’ chambers or judges, making valuable contacts and further developing their real-world experience. They’ve been able to meet and learn from industry figures including the Lord Chief Justice, Master of the Rolls and heads of the Bar Council, Commercial Bar Association and Chancery Bar Association.

Winning competitions in mooting

This year, the Hertfordshire Law School expanded its presence in the national and international sphere by taking part in the ESU-Essex Court National Moot alongside the Thomas Finlay Memorial Moot in Dublin and the Jessup International Law Moot, the largest moot competition in the world.

The expanded presence of Hertfordshire in external competitions looks to build on previous success the school has had, which has included:

  • Winning the ESU/Essex Court Chambers National Mooting Competition in 2008
  • Runners-up in the OUP/BPP Mooting Competition in 2009
  • Third highest score in the Commonwealth Mooting Competition, for which our students travelled to Hong Kong in 2009 to represent the UK
  • Thomas A. Finlay Inter-Varsity Moot Competition 2018

Our success in these competitions means that the University provides our students with an excellent platform from which to build their future careers.