Mooting - How Much of a Deal is it in your Law Degree?

I hope to study law at Uni starting in Autumn '06, one thing I am apprehensive about is mooting!

Is it compulsory? Does every student have to do it? Is it always assessed?

Sorry if this is a dumb question but I want to see how big a deal mooting is in the study of law at university

Thanks

Reply 1

Crazy Mongoose

Seriously, if you are planning to be a lawyer, shouldn't you at least sort-of like public speaking? It is one of the more traditional 'lawerly' skills...

Reply 2

bookshifter

Crazy Mongoose

Seriously, if you are planning to be a lawyer, shouldn't you at least sort-of like public speaking? It is one of the more traditional 'lawerly' skills...

I enjoy public speaking (by that I mean making presentations, carrying out demonstrations, chairing group meetings/debates) but mooting seems to be quite unique doesn't it? With the court etiquette and people interrupting your flow etc.

Obviously I welcome the opportunity to learn/participate in mooting .. i am just a little apprenhensive!

I just don't fancy mooting every week whilst at university! :biggrin:

Reply 3

alocin

At Cardiff mooting is very optional, I'd say less than a quarter of people on the law course do it. Mainly the would-be barristers.

Reply 4

Tricia Rooney

At Cambridge mooting is entirely optional - and I didn't attend at all. However, sometimes it can help with your studies because the subject of the moot will normally be something (eg a case) that you are studying (even if you just go to watch).

Reply 5

twinkledust

At Sussex, it is optional. However, i saw a thread on here the other day which stated that it was required at a uni but i can't remember which one.

Reply 6

Leifde

at lse u absolutly dont have to moot if u dont want to. n tbh i dont think that many of us do. it is more of an extra-cirricular thing here. completely non-assessed.

Reply 7

killiefan

I think that as a first year, having to do a moot is quite daunting.

I have always been quite a shy person and whilst I appreciate that if I want to practice criminal law I will have to get used to doing things like this, I think that it would be better left being taught in a skills class rather than actually counting for your mark, particularly in the first year when potentially you will have more experience and skills at speaking out as you progress in the degree.

Reply 8

lauzt

i'm at strathclyde and mooting is optional although i'd highly recommend getting involved. i was apprehensive too but it's actually really good fun and loks gr8 on your cv. mooting is compulsory at some unis - i know dundee do it as part of their course.

Reply 9

S_Dimelow

I have to do a compulsory moot at the end of the year (I am only in my 1st year so it won't count towards my degree classification) but as far as any further moots, they are completely optional.
I would say, as mentioned above, if you want to be a Barrister then do as much as you can as its very useful experience to have and looked on as compulsory by many places when applying for puppilage at chambers (or debating experience).