UNSW Law students can hone their professional skills through a variety of competitions such as mooting, trial advocacy, client interviewing and negotiation. The skills competitions further develop your legal understanding and equip you with strong analytical, teamwork and communication skills. 

There are beginner to advanced competitions and you can also compete internationally as an elective in later years of your degree.  

Competitions include:

  • Jessup International Law Moot Competition 

  • Vis International Commercial Arbitration Competition 

  • Pictet International Humanitarian Law Competition 

  • International Criminal Court Moot 

  • ELSA World Trade Organisation Moot Court Competition 

  • International Commercial Mediation Competition

Mooting

Mooting is the law school equivalent to mock trials. Competitors, working in pairs, are given a fact scenario and are required to research the relevant area of law to develop legal arguments for their hypothetical client. After completing written submissions, competitors present their arguments in a court-like situation before a ‘judge’. Mooting provides competitors with the fantastic opportunity to experience what life will be like as a legal practitioner representing a client in the context of adversarial proceedings. 

Participation in mooting competitions can provide amazing opportunities, from meeting and working with colleagues through to participating in local and national events, to international competitions in places such as The Hague and Washington.

Skills

The UNSW Law Society (LawSoc) organises client interviewing, trial advocacy and skills competitions. These are available to all Law students, irrespective of the stage of their degree.

Client Interviewing

Client Interviewing Competition involves a team of two competitors interviewing a client to ascertain the client’s needs and to explain the client’s basic situation. There are beginner and intermediate competitions.

Trial Advocacy

In Trial Advocacy competitions, competitors are involved in a simulated criminal trial – which includes all the major components of a real trial, from the opening address through to cross-examination of witnesses and the closing address.

How to get involved

Visit myLaw or contact Law Student Services for more information. 

MyLaw
“

Mooting is a fantastic experience, being one of the only opportunities in law school to practice legal advocacy in a court-like setting. It has provided me with numerous opportunities, such as speaking before Judges of the New South Wales Supreme Court, New South Wales Court of Appeal and Federal Court.

Mooting not only provides a chance to refine your understanding of class content, but also to develop crucial skills, including speaking skills, legal research and developing legal arguments.

”
Major Zhang, Commerce/Law Student
“

Skills competitions are a great way to develop and equip yourself with ‘lawyerly’ skills in a practical environment. Competing in skills competitions draws on the material you learn in class and challenges your ability to think quickly and creatively on the spot.

In my time directing the Skills Portfolio, I have been able to see competitors work on their natural strengths and specialties, and go on to compete in prestigious international competitions and face competitors from all over the world.

”
Chris Yuan, B. Commerce/Law student