UC West Cup

What is moot court?

Moot court is a common practice in law school where participants present an appeal or motions case before a panel of judges. We recommend checking out the Osgoode Cup website, or watching either the 2020 Osgoode Cup Final or 2021 Lions Cup Final for a better understanding of moot court in the undergraduate level.

I’ve never mooted before, is it alright for me to participate?

Absolutely! Most undergraduate moot court tournaments in Canada welcome beginners. It is an excellent way to start your journey in exploring the law and legal career.

What do I have to do in a moot?

You and your partner will be required to prepare submissions (arguments) for both the appellant and the respondent of a given case. You will be required to present your submissions to a panel of judges within 7 minutes per speaker (14 minutes per team). You will be mooting through a fictional higher court above the level of court found in the case. For example, if the case is about a decision from the Supreme Court of Canada, you will be mooting to judges in a fictional court above the Supreme Court of Canada. Judges will be asking you questions about your position throughout your submission, so you may be interrupted by judges throughout the moot.

I don’t have a partner, how do I find one?

We generally invite students to fill out an individual registration form so that we can pair you with another student!  Please note that the individual form closes on November 5th to ensure that you and your potential partner will have sufficient time to prepare for the tournament.

How do I prepare for the tournament?

We suggest approaching tournament preparation in 3 stages: case analysis, submissions drafting, and presentation practice!

For case analysis, we suggest first, reading the case summary often provided at the very beginning of the case. Then, read each side by thoroughly analyzing and understanding the reasonings offered. This means, reading the majority decision and doing your best to thoroughly understand their reasonings before moving onto the dissenting opinions. 

For submissions drafting, you will be required to prepare arguments for both the appellant and the respondent. In most cases, the respondent follows the majority decision, and the appellant follows the dissenting opinion. 

After you and your partner complete case analysis and submissions, we recommend you consistently practice presenting and speaking your arguments. The goal is to be able to state your position and efficiently advocate, despite judges questioning you throughout the moot. 

What does the time commitment look like?

It’s dependent per student! Each student has different goals for participating. Some may want to participate casually or for fun, and others may want to be competitive. It is up to each student as to how much time they would like to dedicate to moot court. If you are looking for a suggestion, for beginners, we suggest starting with about 2-3 hours per week for preparations. 

Is there a way for me to practice with others before the tournament?

Yup! The UC Moot Court Society will be having the next practice on Thursday, November 4th for members. Please contact ucmcs.moot@gmail.com if you’d like to attend. 

Got more questions?

If you would like more information, please check out the beginner’s mooting guide and competitor’s package, or email us at ucmcs.moot@gmail.com.