IMPORTANCE OF MOOTING IN LAW SCHOOL
ABSTRACT
Similar to a court process, a type of oral procedure known as mooting is used mostly at educational institutions and colleges where law is taught as a subject to assess a student's ability in defending a legal case. It is one of the co-curricular activities that is crucial to a law student's college experience. Prior to now, universities did not include mooting as a subject in their legal education; however, given the demands of lawyers worldwide, mooting in the form of "Moot Court" has been added to the curriculum of students in order to better prepare them for the legal profession before they graduate. Mooting is a crucial component of education for a student who plans to become a lawyer soon since it will facilitate his job and assist him appear in a real courtroom. The same reason that students from other nations may connect and better understand the concept of mooting in all of its parts is why moot court competitions are organized all over the world. This blog aims to evaluate the value of mooting in the legal education process before determining its relevance and why it is so important now.
KEYWORDS: Mooting, Moot court, Legal profession, Co-curricular activity, and Legal Education
INTRODUCTION
One of the extracurricular activities that every law student is required to take part in is moot court. Learning through a co-curricular activity aid in keeping track of the focus topic. It enhances an in-depth understanding of the issue, such as case laws, numerous statutes and laws that may draw to that specific legal problem, various government initiatives, and so on. Other contests that a law student should do at least once are client counseling, debates, mediation competitions, and others that help law students enhance their abilities and knowledge while also assisting them in determining their goals.
A moot court is a form of competition in which law students argue hypothetical cases. Arguments are often offered to the court in the form of oral arguments in the form of an appeal. Teams must analyze the assigned legal concerns, conduct research on them, draft a memorial in accordance with the instructions, and submit their argument to a court or panel of judges. There are two teams, the Petitioner and the Respondent; each team has to present their respective arguments and answer the questions posed to them by the judges in between those arguments; after each team has presented their arguments, there is a round of rebuttal where any team can rebut the arguments made by the opposite side with logical reasoning. Apart from the previously stated method, etiquette is a critical component. Etiquette in this context refers to the style in which one speaks, the usage of distinguishing formal terms in a given scenario, and the decorum to be observed throughout the moot competition.[1]
ADVANTAGES OF MOOTING
Networking
The ability to engage and socialize with so many people from all over the world that you meet while mooting is one of the main advantages of mooting. They get the opportunity to become more exposed to the outside world as students from diverse areas and colleges come together to advertise themselves.
Application of Knowledge
Mooting helps law students by exposing them to practical implications and knowledge that they would never find in the books and that they would otherwise be unaware of. This is because practical and theoretical knowledge are similar to two different sides of the same coin, and you need to study both of them to pass the hurdle even though they appear to be identical but are actually completely different.
Increasing Confidence
Participating in mooting can help someone get the courage to voice their thoughts and speak up. It aids in boosting a person's self-assurance to the point where he may effectively argue his argument without fear of being questioned or speaking in front of others.
Writing and Research Abilities
Participating in moot court contests can help you develop your research abilities because you will be presenting your case and arguing your position based on your study. It will also help you create a strong moot court memorial that the opposing team will use to object to and question you. Additionally, it will help you improve your ability to respond quickly to circumstances and deal with uncomfortable ones.
Group Effort
Teams from various universities travel to participate at the institution or college that hosts the moot court competition. The group of three students includes a researcher and two presenters who present the arguments put forward by the opposing sides. This teaches the students how to collaborate effectively and assess their strengths and limitations in order to figure out how to improve them in order to be as effective as possible. Working with people who think differently than you do educates people on how to communicate with one another, which may be useful.
Significance of Mooting
Honestly, one of the most crucial things that aids in both your professional development and future progress is mooting. When a law student goes to a job interview, it will be beneficial if their resume indicates that they have participated in a variety of moots because the employer will see that they have a wealth of knowledge in this area and experience, increasing their chances of being chosen. Mooting is one activity that instills a lot of habits and discipline that are required by many law firm recruiters. Today's age views mooting as one of the most crucial aspects that everyone pays attention to because if you are an effective mooter, people will see you as significant and informed. Additionally, the exposure you receive through mooting makes it easier for you to adapt to your future careers, which is very significant.
Various moot court competitions[2]
The National and International Moot Court tournaments are two different categories of moot court tournaments. While an international moot court competition is one that is organized and invites participants from outside of India to participate on a large scale, a national moot court competition refers to a situation where the mooting takes place within the nation and students from all across the nation's law schools participate in the competition. Moot court competitions may be based on any law, including criminal, civil, or any other legislation that may be currently making headlines. Students can think thoroughly about legal issues and develop a solid understanding of the law with the aid of these various moots. The process of mooting, aids students in identifying their areas of strength and weakness as well as what they need to focus on more going forward.
CONCLUSION
We consider mooting to be one of the key components in helping law students become competent in this area. Students should engage in a variety of mooting activities because they gain a tremendous amount of exposure through them, as well as knowledge and experience that will be useful to them when they become lawyers, judges of the High Court and Supreme Court, and practitioners of the law. If the facts given to you are clear, quote as many relevant case laws as you can. It's important to remember that the Petitioner's and the Respondent's prayers are two separate things. Be sure to follow the structure and keep your prayers as brief as possible. Therefore, these mooting events encourage students to stand up and demonstrate their talents while also assisting them in developing as individuals.
REFERENCES
[1]Abhinandan (July 7, 2012) Mooting skills: Some practical tips, Home - Legally India - Career Intelligence for Lawyers, Law Students. Available at: https://www.legallyindia.com/views/entry/mooting-skill (Accessed: 25 July 2023). [2]Singh, R. (2022) Importance of co-curricular activities in Law School by Dayananda Sagar University, School of Law, Bangalore, Lawctopus. Available at: https://www.lawctopus.com/importance-of-co-curricular-activities-in-law-school-by-dsu/ (Accessed: 23 July 2023).
AUTHOR – Sonakshi Sharma