Released on 01 Jul 2011
OUP sponsored national mooting competition culminates in exciting final
Judge Gratwicke crowns City University champions of the Oxford University Press (OUP) and BPP National Mooting Competition for 2010-2011.
The two winning law students, Rory Clarke and Mark Humphreys, received a certificate, trophy, £750 each and a chance to gain experience with BPP Law School’s Pro Bono Centre.
The runners-up, Mark Leiser and Andrew Ross of the University of Strathclyde, share £700 between them and the other finalists, the University of Cambridge and the University of Exeter (Cornwall Campus) win £150 of OUP books each.
City University put the ghosts of three previous finals to rest, with this year’s duo emerging triumphant at the final, held on Thursday 30 June at BPP Law School, Holborn.
His Honour Judge Gratwicke, of Chelmsford Crown Court oversaw proceedings keeping the students on their toes with some keen interjections. In his summing up, Judge Gratwicke said: “I have always felt that the standard of advocacy in this competition is extremely high and this year is no exception. I spend all my time listening to advocates and I can tell you that I would be very, very happy to have any of you standing up in front of me in court. My advice to you all: be advocates.”
Mark Humphreys, City University, said: “The best thing about mooting and about this prestigious competition in particular is that it gives us the opportunity to undertake legal research and to focus on a relevant and interesting moot problem. It is the closest thing to the real experience without actually appearing in a courtroom."
The fictitious moot problem, devised for the competition by Per Laleng of Kent Law School, was praised by all finalists and by the judge for its relevance and the challenge it presented with no obvious right answer. In The Supreme Court, Clean Dyes Ltd (in liquidation) v Gareth Jones - an appeal and cross-appeal, this problem centred on Mr Jones, a moderate smoker, who has developed bladder cancer. During his employment with Clean Dyes he was exposed to the carcinogenic amines and the case centres on whether it was his smoking or the exposure to carcinogens during his employment that caused his illness.
Teams wishing to enter the 2011/2012 mooting competition can register their interest by sending an email to mooting.uk@oup.com .
Further information about the OUP & BPP National Mooting Competition can be found here
Notes for Editors
- For enquiries please contact Stella White on stella.white@oup.com
- The OUP and BPP National Mooting Competition is a prestigious annual event for any law student with a passion for mooting.
- BPP Professional Education's goal is to empower students to succeed through our relentless focus on quality, supported by flexible learning solutions and outstanding educational material.
- Oxford University Press is the UK’s leading publisher of legal textbooks and is a department of the University of Oxford.
