Bond University’s annual High School Mooting Competition was held in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia from Friday, 19 April to Saturday, 27 April 2013.
The competition not only introduced students to the courtroom environment, but also offered budding lawyers the chance to test their skills as court advocates and to practice persuasive speaking.
The competition required students to act as appellants or respondents to a civil case, and appear in front of acting judge of the competition, Bond University Clinical Associate Professor Kathy Atkins, who examined the students based on documentation, presentation and a question and answer session.
Students in the best team from each of the three regions were offered 40% scholarships to study law at Bond. Outstanding Advocates of the competition also received trophies at the awards ceremony.
One of two teams representing Sunway College’s Australian Matriculation Programme in the Kuala Lumpur rounds obtained second place in the competition. The team comprising of Qistina Zainir, Connie Yong Yung Jing and Sean Low Shan-An were proud at their achievement especially as it was their first time participating in a moot challenge.
“It was a whole new experience for us as it broadened our minds and challenged our abilities,” shared Qistina.
“Although nerve-wrecking and thoroughly time-consuming, the experience was completely fulfilling,” said the students.
The winning schools from each region were:
- Kuala Lumpur - Taylors Subang Jaya
- Kuching – SM Lodge
- Kota Kinabalu – SMK St Francis Convent
Kuala Lumpur has been part of the High School Mooting program since 2006 and from 2011 both Kota Kinabalu and Kuching hold their own regional rounds and final.
Bond University also runs an Australian version of the competition each year, with schools competing from all around the country.