GCU Law students win a work experience placement at a recent mooting competition
GCU LLB Law students have won the chance to complete work experience at a law firm, after winning first prize at a recent mooting competition in Glasgow.
‘Mooting’, in the context of law, is a mock trial where two sides argue a point of law in front of an acting judge, who decides the winner based on the presentations of each side.
LLB Law students Fiza Ali and Zara Tahir decided to enter the Sheriff Principal’s Mooting Competition, which was open to first and second year students studying a law programme from Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Glasgow and the City of Glasgow College.
In teams of two, students competed in the preliminary rounds in April and were judged by Senior Sheriffs. Fiza and Zara successfully made it to the final, which saw them win the trophy at the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow.
After completing a module around mooting, Fiza discovered the importance of the skill and how good communication is key when working in the field of law. She explained: “Mooting looks into the performance aspect as well as the legal argument, focusing on how you portray your argument.
This was something I didn’t quite realise until a took a mooting module last semester and realised how performance based it is; how your pronunciation and tone of speech impacts so much in how your argument is perceived. Ultimately, mooting is an important skill in relation to law as it allows you to actively showcase your legal knowledge when being put on the spot, being asked questions and being able to write a well put together legal argument.”
The module proved to be an eye-opener for both Fiza and Zara, after getting the best marks in the class for their mooting skills. Lecturer James Connolly decided to put Fiza and Zara forward to represent GCU at the upcoming Sheriff Principal’s Mooting Competition.
After agreeing to take part, the pair were set with the topic of their debate a week in advance of the competition to allow them to prepare their arguments. Students were asked to argue a case for a mock scenario, in which Fiza and Zara defended successfully after winning the semi-final. Fiza said: “To have won the semi-final was incredible and it made it equally more pressure in winning the final.
In the final round we dealt with an issue of contract law, and it was particularly nerve wracking when preparing for the final knowing everything that was on the line - being able to gain work experience and win a trophy for GCU. After facing tough competition, we won the final which felt so relieving after getting so far and putting in so much preparation. We both just wanted our efforts to be worth it and they definitely were.”
She added: “It feels surreal when we were first offered the opportunity to take part to be completely honest, I did not expect for us to have come as far as we did! The whole experience was so unique to be judged in a final by a newly appointed Sheriff Principal. To be involved in such a competition and to have done so well is definitely an achievement to remember.”
Fiza, who admitted that she doesn’t usually enter competitions, wants to encourage future students to take advantage of opportunities like these. She said: “I was never the type to enter into competitions due to being nervous and the whole arrangement seemed quite daunting. However, I just put myself forward and thought ‘What is the worst that could happen?’”
She added: “It’s a great opportunity and I have learned so much from it. I’m glad I put myself forward into a position I wouldn’t usually put myself forward for.
If you never give yourself the chance, you never know how well you can perform so definitely take up the opportunity if you can.”
By Rachael McAlonan
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