Top high school law students from around the country will compete in a prestigious national mooting competition, being judged by some of Australia's most respected legal figures, at Bond University next month.
The Honourable Justice Robert Gotterson, AO of the Supreme Court of Queensland, retired District Court of Queensland Judge John Newton and Bond University’s Assistant Professor Louise Parsons, are among the judging panel for the Bond University High School Mooting Competition finals, being held on the Gold Coast on August 1 and 2.
Teams from 14 schools have been selected to compete in the finals of the competition, the only one of its kind in Australia, after coming out on top during the regional rounds of the competition, which attracted the best and brightest Year 11 and 12 students from 107 schools.
Each team comprises three students, with the finalists representing schools in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney, Toowoomba and Northern Queensland.
The mooting competition introduces students to the courtroom environment and gives them insight into the workings of the Australian legal system, with two opposing teams conducting a legal argument involving the application of legal rules to factual situations similar to those dealt with by the courts every day.
Each member of the team who wins the national final, along with the three students judged to be the best individual advocates, will be offered a 40 per cent scholarship to undertake a Bachelor of Laws degree at Bond University, Australia's leading private university.
Assistant Professor Louise Parsons said the competition continues to grow every year as more schools participate.
"The standard of advocacy skills displayed by the students has greatly increased over the years, so it is even more challenging for the students to put forward the best argument," she said.
"It is all about encouraging students to prepare, articulate and defend a complex argument in order to solve a legal problem, like barristers do in court on a daily basis. It is a great challenge not just for those interested in a legal career but any student wanting to really develop skills in critical thinking, analysis, problem solving and oral communication.
"It is also a rare opportunity to meet and receive feedback from some of Australia's greatest legal minds."