The next generation of lawyers have battled it out in the finals of the Bond University National High School Mooting Competition.
The prestigious, annual competition was back in person this year, with eight high school teams from across the nation putting forward their best arguments in Bond’s Moot Court on Saturday morning to argue their way into the grand final that afternoon.
Prince Alfred College from Adelaide and Fintona Girls’ School from Melbourne proved their legal prowess during the semi-finals to clinch well-deserved grand final spots. Prince Alfred College went on to be crowned national champions for 2023.
With more than 80 spectators attentively watching on, the case was not only exceptionally well argued but the competition between the two teams was extraordinarily tight according to Bond University Faculty of Law Deputy Dean and Director National High School Mooting Competition, Associate Professor Louise Parsons.
“Saturday’s grand final was very close. Both teams presented compelling legal arguments,” she said.
“Overall, the standard this year was incredible. I am blown away every year by the talent and high calibre of students this Bond competition attracts, and 2023 was no exception.”
This year, the number of entries to the Bond University High School Mooting Competition was capped, and ultimately 53 teams from across the country participated, featuring local teams from the Gold Coast and Brisbane as well as teams coming from as far as Darwin, Tasmania and New Zealand. Eight teams went on to be selected for the final rounds held this past weekend.
Students taking part in the grand final round presented their arguments in front of the Honourable Justice Robert Gotterson AO (retired judge of the Queensland Supreme Court of Appeal), the Honourable Judge John Newton (retired judge of the Queensland District Court) and esteemed academic Assistant Professor Jo Hintz. It doesn’t get much more real than that!
"This competition is such an important initiative as it provides high school students with exposure to legal advocacy and enables them to experience what it is like to be a lawyer,” Associate Professor Parsons said.
“This real-world, authentic environment, at such a young age, is invaluable and each year, our competition continues to attract attention, which is great to see.”
All participants of the competition each year have the opportunity to apply for the Judge John Newton Mooting Scholarship at Bond University, if they chose to attend Bond to study a Bachelor of Laws degree or an approved double-degree which includes the Bachelor of Laws degree – an excellent incentive for a student figuring out their next move.