Regional mooting winners selected for national finals

Tuesday 30 May 2006

The competitive battle for places in the annual national law school mooting finals is almost complete.

Top mooters from Otago, Waikato, Victoria and Auckland universities have been chosen and just who they will face from Canterbury will be known next month.

The students will compete in the finals held during the New Zealand Law Students’ Association annual National Conference, this year at Waikato University from 29 August-2 September.

Mooting is a centuries-old way of training law students to present an argument in a court setting. Using a fictitious legal case, students – usually in pairs – present their side of the argument before a judge. They are questioned by the judge and are assessed on style and the content of their argument.

Students compete within their university law faculties before a university final is held usually at their city's High Court and before a panel of judges including High Court judges and a litigation partner from law firm Bell Gully, a long-time major sponsor of mooting in New Zealand. The firm also assists the winning national team to compete at mooting competitions overseas.

Ian Gault, Bell Gully partner involved in the Waikato and Auckland finals, says he has been impressed by the talent and the enthusiasm for mooting among the students this year.

"The mooters have tackled complex arguments in fields varying from constructive trusts to vicarious liability for sexual abuse, and have done so with a level of skill and commitment that bodes well for the next generation of court advocates."

Auckland (May 17): This year's Auckland final was judged by High Court judge Justice Winkelmann. Charlotte Saunders and Elizabeth Heaney came up against James Townshend and Jonathan Orpin. Jonathan was the overall winner and James runner-up. They head to the finals.

Wellington (May 12): Justice Tipping from the Supreme Court, with Andrew Scott-Howman and Brendan Cash from Bell Gully sat as judges. Michael Cavanaugh was named best individual and was joined in the winning team by Roderick Mulgan. The other finalists were Christopher Bishop and Charlotte Hollingsworth.

Otago (May 5): The winning team was Daniel Pannett and Laura Fraser, who beat runners-up Duncan Mackenzie and Dave Shewan. Bell Gully senior associate Jenny Stevens and Dean of the Law Faculty Professor Mark Henaghan were among the five judges.

Waikato (May 9): Bell Gully partner Ian Gault joined Justice Heath and Justice Ellen France to sit as judges for the Waikato final in which Rebecca Rose and Shona Foster prevailed to take a spot in their home final.

Canterbury: The final will be held on June 8, with Bell Gully senior associate Simon Ladd among the judges.

Photos:

At the Auckland mooting final at the High Court are, from left, Bell Gully partner Ian Gault, finalists Charlotte Saunders and Elizabeth Heaney, Justice Winkelmann, runner-up James Townshend and Stout Shield winner Jonathan Orpin.

At the Wellington final are, from left, Justice Tipping, runner-up Roderick Mulgan, winner Michael Cavanaugh and Bell Gully judges, senior associate Brendan Cash and partner Andrew Scott-Howman.

For more information, please contact:

Ian Gault
Partner
Bell Gully
64 9 916 8967