Starting another year’s competition are 46 student teams, eager to gain valuable experience and potentially work towards winning the 2025 Rosamund Smith Moot Competition. Beginning in January, the six rounds start online and then move to in-person, coming to an end with a semi-final and final in Hall.
As the coordinator of the competition, I’m fortunate to see how this large set of events comes together, from the hard-working mooters spending a great deal of time in preparation to the judges who kindly offer their valuable time amidst a busy schedule.
However, it’s not just the mooters and judges; preparation begins well in advance, involving more volunteers. The Masters of Moots contacts potential volunteer moot setters; Middle Temple staff book the venues and arrange a group of timekeepers.
Of course, the exciting part is when those who have prepared have one chance to put their advocacy skills to the test and have their first skeletons reviewed. Students will not know who is judging and are in new territory. Many comment that the experience can be nerve-racking, but it’s an excellent opportunity for professional growth, as it allows for receiving live feedback from barristers and judges. I recall a judge once saying to the mooters that this is the place to make mistakes and try things out. To find out what works and perhaps what may need improvement. This is indeed a process for students to develop their advocacy; they start from their rooms at home on Zoom, appear in person at the Inn in front of a judge or barrister, and then proceed to the Hall.
Coming from the voluntary sector, it has been a pleasure to work with our Middle Temple members. We’ve had more new judges get in contact than ever before, some directly getting in touch and others who have recently been Benched and are keen to be involved. We have a cohort of moot judges who are always enthusiastic and very supportive in filling up the calendar of moots. In Round One, we are faced with numerous moots to be judged, and we couldn’t do it without the time and generosity of our members. We are also very grateful to the senior members of the judiciary whom the Masters of the Moots invite to judge in the semi-finals and final.
At the time of writing, we are about to enter round four. It’s an interesting point in the competition where the mooters seem to realise that the next round is the semi-finals, and the possibility of winning suddenly feels very real.
If mooters reach the final, they each win a wig and gown. In addition, they usually take part in a fully funded mooting exchange with a US university (either Pepperdine University in California or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
Though, of course, it’s very nice to win these prizes, feedback is often the most valuable thing taken from those who took part.
Geoff Brown has been with the Education team at Middle Temple since October 2022. He coordinates the Rosamund Smith Mooting Competition, supports advocacy weekends and post-Call courses. Originally from Hertfordshire, his background includes theatre, charity work, and customer support.
