- About postgraduate study
- Part-time study
- Courses
- Order a Prospectus
- Faculties & Departments
- UK students
- EU students
- International Students
- How to apply for your course
- Handy Hints
- Open Events
- Student Recruitment
- Money Matters
- About Us
20 Jun 2006 16:08:31
Lawyers of the future got a taste of real-life job pressures thanks to the annual “mooting event” at the University of Luton.
Teams of second year students took part in the recent event and had to argue a make-believe legal case in front of a very real audience and a panel of expert judges.
The event was so popular among students that the Law School had to hold a knock-out heat stage to whittle the legal teams down to two for the final.
Daphine Sanhanga and Jennifer McDonald stood in as barristers, aided by solicitors Jennifer Lugarama and Petronilla Ogbonnaya – ranged against barristers Stephen Reid and Kerran Chen and their solicitor Pam Pabla.
Judging the young lawyers’ performance was a panel made up of: Barrister and Senior Lecturer at Kingston University, David Gregory; partner in Knowles Benning Solicitors, Royston Warfield; and Governor and Chair of Beds Hospital Acute Care Trust Professor, Helen Nellis.
And if the expert panel wasn’t intimidating enough, the teams had to perform in front of a large audience of more than 50 guests, fellow students and lecturers.
At issue was a fictional legal case involving the validity of a trust that a philanthropist had made in favour of University of Luton employees, students, supporters and friends – which was being challenged by his executors.
Daphine and Jennifer’s team was judged to have won the legal argument on both points, successfully convincing the panel that an appeal should be allowed, due to the trust not being made in writing and because the beneficiaries were too uncertain.
The team was presented with £100 book tokens, with Stephen and Kerran’s team taking home £60 worth of vouchers.
It was reward for weeks of hard work, which sees the students preparing and researching the case as if they were to appear in a real court.
A special prize went to Daphine Sanhanga, who was named “best individual mooter” and gets the chance to work for a week at Knowles Benning solicitors.
Judges were asked to rate the mooters not just on their legal arguments, but also on presentation style, court formalities, depth of research/knowledge and the ability to respond to the judges’ impromptu questions.
Royston Warfield said: “The panel was very impressed and it was hard to pick a winner. The performances of the mooters would not disgrace junior members of the Bar.”
To find out more about studying Law at the University of Luton call 0800 3896633 or visit www.luton.ac.uk.
Latest news» 2006» Jun» Experience a moot point for Luton law students
