This year the Mooting Society has gone from strength to strength. A promising cadre of first years were able to hone their talents in the annual first year competition, whilst increased participation in our main faculty and criminal law competitions enabled many students to participate in mooting for the first time.
Internal competitions form a key part of the mooting programme, but they also play a role in selecting participants for external events.This year the Society decided to introduce another element to the selection process, holding an open audition for some of our external moots. As a result, Daniel Rehda, a mature student on the accelerated law degree, was able to participate in a moot held at the Supreme Court in London in front of Lord Sumption. Not only was this a fantastic experience for all involved, but Lord Sumption’s feedback was exceptionally helpful and thorough and will no doubt help all participants in any future court or indeed public speaking environment.
The Society also participated in the UK Law Students Association and Alexander Stone mooting competitions, with Bethany Ingham and Guillaume Kitumaini competing in the former and Simon Boendermaker and Emma Macmillan in the latter. Whilst both sides were eventually bested after proceeding deep into each competition, the experience gained by all four mooters will serve them well in further competitions and in their legal careers.
The high note of our external competitions saw the Society taking part in Dundee University’s inaugural Inter Varsity moot; competing against the hosts, RGU and Edinburgh. Aberdeen entered two teams, and an unfortunate draw meant both Aberdeen teams faced each other in the semi-finals. Alistair McDermid and Bethany Ingham emerged victorious from that clash, before defeating the hosts to take the shield up the A90 to Aberdeen.
The Society has now held its AGM and the handover to the new committee has been completed. The new committee will press on with plans for various events such as the Times 2TG moot, UKLSA and Jessup moots. We are looking forward to holding auditions again in September for all potential new participants, not to mention the annual staff v student moot!
Of course, that doesn’t mean that the year is complete for the Society. There is still the annual Granite City moot at 18:00 on Tuesday 29 March at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, where teams from Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University will face each other before Sheriff Stirling. Aberdeen will be looking to retain their crown for a third consecutive year: everyone is warmly invited to attend to see if they can do so and to share a glass of wine afterwards at a reception sponsored by the law firm Brodies LLP.
This blog was contributed by the University of Aberdeen Mooting Society.
