Mooting at Queen's University Belfast School of Law

Discover Mooting: A Gateway to Legal Practice

Mooting at Queen's University Belfast School of Law offers students a dynamic opportunity to engage with the law in a practical, hands-on setting. By participating in mock appellate court hearings, students draft written submissions and deliver oral arguments based on hypothetical legal cases. Open to students at all degree levels, mooting provides invaluable insights into the practical application of law, honing skills in written and oral advocacy while offering a taste of real-world legal practice. Through formulating and presenting compelling arguments, participants develop critical skills that are essential for a successful legal career.

The Mooting Committee

Our mooting programme is led by Dr John Taggart, Mooting Coordinator, with support from esteemed predecessors Professor David Capper and Dr John Stannard OBE. The Mooting Committee organises internal mooting events and coordinates the University's participation in prestigious external intervarsity competitions, ensuring students have access to exceptional opportunities to showcase their talents.

Internal Mooting Opportunities

In collaboration with the QUB Law Society, the Mooting Committee organises a variety of annual events designed to develop students’ advocacy skills. The academic year kicks off with workshops in the first semester, focusing on research techniques, written advocacy, and oral presentation skills. These workshops prepare students for competitions such as:

• Law Society Annual Novice Moot: Held in the first semester, this event is tailored for first-time mooters, offering a supportive environment to apply newly acquired skills.

• Law Society Annual Open Moot: A second-semester competition open to all law students, encouraging the development of concise and persuasive legal arguments.

• Intervarsity Plea in Mitigation Competition: A unique opportunity to refine advocacy skills in a competitive setting.

• Inaugural Kings versus Queens Moot: A collaborative event with King’s College London, fostering inter-university engagement.

These internal events are open to all law students, regardless of their degree path, and provide a platform to practice court etiquette, enhance public speaking confidence, and construct compelling legal arguments. Exceptional performers in these events may be invited to join the University’s intervarsity mooting team.

“Participating in mooting has been incredibly rewarding. The workshops provided a strong foundation in research and drafting, while the external selection moot allowed me to learn from experienced mooters and build my confidence. I highly recommend mooting to anyone interested in law!”
– Alannah Carr, Intervarsity Team

“Winning the 2021 Novice Moot was a fantastic experience. As a criminal law enthusiast, I loved tackling the moot problem and learning from judges and peers. It’s an excellent way to sharpen your advocacy skills.”
– Kan Law, Law Society Novice Moot 2021 Winner

External Mooting Competitions

Each year, Queen's University Belfast assembles a talented team of students from LLB, LLM, and PhD programmes to represent the School of Law in prestigious intervarsity mooting competitions. Team members are selected through a rigorous process led by Dr Capper and Dr Stannard, involving three rounds: research, drafting skeleton arguments, and delivering oral arguments. This selection process mirrors the skills developed in our workshops and ensures only the most capable advocates represent Queen’s.

Our teams compete in high-profile competitions, including:

• Oxford University Press & ICCA National Moot

• ESU-Essex Court National Moot

• DCU National Moot

• Southampton Intervarsity Moot

• LSE-Featherstone LGBT Moot

• Philpott Curran Moot

• TCD Mock Trial

• Leiden International Children’s Rights Moot

“Being part of the external mooting team has been a highlight of my time at Queen’s. Advocating before distinguished judges and barristers, coupled with the collaborative preparation, has significantly enhanced my legal skills and understanding.”
– Emma Payne, ESU-Essex Court & OUP Competitor

QUB Mooting Society: Academic Achievements 2018-2024

The School of Law’s mooting programme has a proud history of success, reflecting the dedication and skill of our students. Recent highlights include:

• 2022-23 OUP & ICCA National Mooting Competition Runners-Up: Sarah Hair & Ruby Sturgeon

• 2021-22 ESU-Essex Court National Mooting Competition Semi-Finalists: Sarah Hair & Eli Baxter

• 2021 Silken Thomas Irish National Moot Cup Winners: Sarah Hair & Joseph Le Seelleur

• 2019-20 Philpott Curran Moot Court Competition Winners: Yi Kang Choo & Shazana Binti Husaini

• 2018 LSE-Featherstone LGBT Moot Winners: Morgan Hickman & Shea Glasgow

QUB Mooting Society: Academic Achievements 2024-2025

The Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) Mooting Society has had a vibrant and successful 2024-2025 academic year, marked by strong participation and notable achievements in various mooting competitions. Below is a summary of the society’s accomplishments, highlighting the talent and dedication of its student members.

Novice Moot

The academic year began with the annual Novice Moot, which attracted 28 participants from diverse academic years and programs. This event provided an invaluable opportunity for students to collaborate, develop advocacy skills, and apply legal principles in a practical context.

Intervarsity Panel Selections Moot

The Intervarsity Panel Selections Moot served to select representatives for the prestigious Essex Court Chambers National Mooting Competition and to appoint new members to the intervarsity panel. This panel enables students to compete in various mooting competitions throughout the year, fostering their growth as skilled advocates.

Maynooth National Moot Court Competition

QUB was represented at the Maynooth National Moot Court Competition by David Atkinson, Lee Walker, and George Farnon. Despite not advancing to the semi-finals and facing the challenge of unfamiliarity with Irish constitutional law, the team performed admirably against approximately 20 teams, upholding QUB’s reputation with distinction.

International Law Students Association Jessup Moot

For the first time in several years, QUB participated in the International Law Students Association Jessup Moot, the world’s largest mooting competition. The team, consisting of Judy Jaison, Graeme Littlemore, Lara Dougan-Newall, George Farnon, and Safia Syed, competed in London against a highly competitive field of students and qualifying lawyers, showcasing QUB’s growing presence on the global mooting stage.

Essex Court Chambers National Mooting Competition

QUB was represented at the Essex Court Chambers National Mooting Competition by Tom McIlroy and Judy Jaison, who demonstrated strong legal acumen and advocacy skills in this prestigious national event.

LSE-Featherstone Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Moot

The LSE-Featherstone Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Moot saw significant interest, making team selection highly competitive. QUB was represented by two teams: Fallon Burns and Madeleine Kowalenko, and Abbigail Tennant and Divyah Chandrasegaran. Both teams advanced through the preliminary rounds to the oral rounds in London, competing among 42 teams out of 108 across two rounds, reflecting their skill and dedication.

UCC Intervarsity Moot

QUB fielded two teams, totalling six students, for the UCC Intervarsity Moot. The team of Tom McIlroy, Sean Brown, and Lara Dougan-Newall secured an impressive second-place finish, while George Farnon, Madeleine Kowalenko, and Thrisha Samuel also represented QUB admirably. Notably, QUB was the only university with female team members at this competition, underscoring the society’s commitment to promoting diversity in a traditionally male-dominated activity.

Nell McCafferty Women in Law Moot Competition

The Nell McCafferty Women in Law Moot Competition was a significant event for advancing gender diversity in mooting. QUB was represented by Lara Dougan-Newall, Sarah O’Keefe, Muhammed Abdul Rehman, and Mackenzie Brodie. The team of Lara and Sarah advanced to the final, demonstrating exceptional skill. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the final was postponed, and they were unable to participate as they had to catch the last train home.

Upcoming Events

Looking ahead, QUB Mooting Society plans to send a team to the National Students Law Triathlon in Kent and is preparing for the annual Open Moot, which is open to all QUB law students. Additionally, a team including Mackenzie Brodie participated in the London Irish Lawyers Association Moot, collaborating with pupils from the Queen’s Pathways Program, with the finals held in London.

Acknowledgments

The success of QUB’s mooting activities this year is due to the hard work of its student participants, led by Eden Wilson, and the support of key contributors. Special thanks go to Dr. Taggart for invaluable guidance, and to Oliver Lancaster and David Atkinson for their efforts in organising internal competitions. The QUB Mooting Society continues to thrive, fostering advocacy skills and promoting inclusivity in the legal field.