Moot Courts

Objectives

Mooting is an academic exercise which requires students to play the role of lawyers in mock court proceedings by presenting arguments on a hypothetical set of facts in front of a tribunal constituted by renown professional specialized in the subject matters of the case. The students will be working in teams of four, preparing together the written submissions for both sides of the dispute and litigating orally in sub-groups of two in the defense of one party, facing sub-groups representing other teams. Each side has a set time to present its legal arguments and answer questions asked by the judge(s).

Moot Courts constitute an experimental constructivist learning methodology based on problem solving leading to a real "immersion" of the student in the area of law on which the case is focused and the transversal use of subjects from different branches of law and even from different legal systems.  Mooting is a great way to experience advocacy first hand and it serves as an intellectual challenge and encouragement to develop autonomous research and analysis capacities, as well as writing and public speaking.

Moot courts serve multiple purposes:

1. They allow a direct contact with a simulated judiciary experience;

2. They connect the law in the books and the law in action through litigation in a simulated trial case;

3. They integrate and articulate in a real context legal subject-matters learnt in several courses.

Students that participate in moot courts improve substantially their legal writing skills, through the drafting of the written memorials, and also their oral skills, through the pleading in simulated judicial proceedings, where they have to answer questions posed by the juries of the case.