Bond University congratulates Seymour College (Adelaide) on winning the 2010 national High School Mooting Competition.
The final rounds of the competition - which this year attracted entries from 115 schools - were held on the Bond University campus on the Gold Coast on Saturday, July 24.
Competing in the Faculty of Law’s state-of-the-art moot courtrooms, students Bree Nicolo, Charlotte Thomas and Laura Crase debated against students from leading schools around Australia and from as far as Malaysia.
Their impressive performances saw them take the title ahead of the 13 other regional finalists, including Sydney and Brisbane Grammar Schools, The MacRobertson Girls’ High School in Melbourne, and St Teresa School in Malaysia.
As winners, the students each received a 40 percent tuition scholarship to study at Bond University, as well as $300 for their school from the Queensland Law Society, a perpetual High School Mooting Shield and Grand Final plaque.
(L to R): Bree Nicolo, Laura Crase and Charlotte Thomas of Seymour College
Charlotte Thomas from Seymour College was named the Overall Outstanding Advocate for the 2010 competition.
Newington College (Sydney) students Michael Rees and Bradley Smith were runners-up after a close Grand Final. Bradley Smith was awarded the individual honour of Outstanding Advocate, winning a 40 percent Bond University scholarship.
SMK St. Teresa student Alicia Hui Ching Eng also won an “Outstanding Advocate” award and 40 percent Bond University scholarship after her team put in a notable performance in their final round against Ipswich Grammar School from Australia.
Mooting Master and Bond University Associate Professor of Law David Field said the mooting competition introduces students to the courtroom environment while allowing them the opportunity to confront real-life situations without the real-life consequences.
“The competition is an opportunity for all students to build their confidence and to put their thoughts into words, which is the type of exposure this competition offers that a classroom setting may not,” said Professor Field.
“The long-standing term "mooting" is used for legal debate, and historically law schools concentrated on simply teaching the law without practical skills of how to use it.
“Bond University’s Faculty of Law was one of the first law schools to lead the way in putting the legal craft back into law studies.
“For prospective law students, the Bond University High School Mooting Competition also offers the chance to test their potential skills as court advocates and to practice persuasive speaking, while arguing a point on their fee,” Professor Field said.