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Mooting Final

Published 21st April 2006, 2:0pm

One of the highpoints in the Cayman Islands Law School's spring calendar has come back into bloom.

The grand finale of the mooting competition for the school was recently held in the Grand Court. Normally an annual event run by the school for their students, this year's competition was the first in the last two years, in light of Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.

The competition is premised upon a 'moot' point within the law that two opposing teams must argue in a Court of Appeal setting. Teams of two, which appear in the roles of appellants and respondents, are judged on courtroom manner and etiquette; organisation; structure; content; presentation; and delivery of their respective arguments.

"Mooting is an important advocacy training and public speaking experience for law students, especially those who wish to specialise in litigation in their future legal careers," Director of Legal Studies Mitchell Davies notes

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Having eliminated two other teams in the competition's first rounds, the two remaining teams -- Mr Christopher Levers and Ms Amanda Wong (Team 1) and Mr Gary Harris and Mr Martin Davies (Team 2) -- argued on a Tort law moot point concerning the duty of care. The mooting final was held 17 March.

After a long deliberation, the competition's two judges commended both teams for their advocacy skills and exceptional court room manner. Mr Levers and Ms Wong of Team 1 were recognised for their ability as natural advocates. Mr Davies of Team 2 was singled out for the impressive structure of his argument, while teammate Mr Harris was commended for the confidence of his delivery.

In what the judges acknowledged was a difficult and close decision, Mr Levers and Ms Wong were declared winners on both points of the appeal and subsequently, winners of the overall moot.

Presiding as judges of the competition were Ms Nicola Aries, a senior lecturer from Kingston University's Law School in London, and Dr Alan Sprince, law lecturer at the Cayman Islands Law School (CILS).

Ms Aries was visiting the Cayman Islands on a research scholarship. She is a Principal Lecturer at the Kingston University School of Law, London. She was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship by the Higher Education Academy in 2004 based on her work in teaching legal skills to undergraduate students. Ms Aries was the coach for law school's teams that won the National Client Interviewing Competition for England & Wales in 2001 and 2004. She was also asked to bring these skills to bear in helping to prepare a CILS team comprising Mr Gary Harris and Mr Nathan Morrison that competed in an international Client Counselling competition in Cardiff, Wales, in early April 2006. Ms Aries also made a presentation to CILS staff during her visit.

Director Davies thanks Ms Deborah Barker, Professional Practice Course Leader, for her efforts in ensuring that the mooting competition was re-introduced this year to the CILS calendar. Mr Davies also thanks the Chief Justice, the Hon. Mr Justice Anthony Smellie, QC, for kindly allowing the use of Court Room One, thereby ensuring the authenticity of the occasion for the 2006 mooting finalists.

Congratulating both teams for their preparation and performance, Mr Davies expresses happiness that the mooting competition is now back on schedule. The CILS lost its home in the Tower Building following Ivan, and had to work out of temporary premises so that classes for the 2004-2005 academic year could continue, albeit after a slightly delayed start. Early in 2005, the law school moved to its new home in the former CIBC Building on Edward Street in downtown George Town, across from the Courts Building.