It is an eagerly anticipated opportunity for many first-year law students, which helps to build skills in oral advocacy and provides early courtroom experience.
This year, nearly 140 first-year students from the English Common Law program participated, showcasing their talents before 60 seasoned legal practitioners who served as judges for the preliminary rounds. Students were paired into teams of two appellant counsel and two respondent counsel, engaging in simulated court hearings that tested their ability to craft persuasive legal arguments.
Professor Stephen Blair, the competition organizer, emphasized the importance of this experience, stating, “Students want to get into a court-like setting as soon as possible, so we give them that chance.” The competition serves as a foundation for advocacy and communication skills, elements essential for a successful legal career.
The tort case under appeal in this year’s moot (2024 SCC 20). This is a case concerning the enforceability of exclusion clauses in a sales contract and whether they effectively exempted a seller from liability under Ontario's Sale of Goods Act.