During Week 8 of this term, the annual Griffith University High Schools Mooting Competition took place with QAHS competing. The is an annual competition which is suitable for everyone, being able to compete as an instructing solicitor, researcher or a junior or senior council. A moot is a mock or staged court hearing that replicates actual court proceedings. Students study and investigate the legal issue given, in this case the possession of drugs, prepare written submissions, and then utilise their oral skills to present in front of a judge. The mooters received a score out of 80 based on the quality of their written submissions as well as their display of a thorough understanding of the facts of the case alongside relevant legislation, providing a well-structured, logical, and convincing argument, with clear signposting, and being able to deviate from the script by asking questions and conversing with the judge.
It is an excellent opportunity for students seeking a career in law. Students may engage with highly fascinating and ongoing legal issues while also developing and improving their legal research and writing abilities. On the day, participants meet other students who share their interests while learning about and experiencing what studying law at university can be like.
When teams are not competing in a moot, Griffith provides an additional Jury Workshop, 'You be the Jury'. The session was hosted by Professor Robyn Blewer, who is extremely knowledgeable and gave the teams a presentation on jury work before presenting a real-world case with witnesses and evidence, allowing the teams to determine a verdict whether a suspect was guilty or not. This got the teams thinking critically and evaluating the information provided to them, and it offered an excellent opportunity to ask questions and interact with Professor Blewer.
This year one QAHS team entered the competition, consisting of one year 11 student and three year 10 students, including Rihanna Patel as Senior Counsel and Alice Yao as Junior Counsel, with Alan Morris as instructing solicitor as well as Prince Sidiangco as a researcher. Although the Griffith Moot was most of the team's first mooting experience, they achieved exceptional results, with the team presenting their case for the Crown and finishing third in the competition, outperforming a large pool of schools. On top of this, Rihanna won first place for being the top scoring individual mooter. The team's outstanding presentation of the case is not separable from their intensive preparation alongside academic work and exams, as well as the programme director, Mrs. Rebgetz, and her exceptional involvement and leadership, aiding the team with preparation and organising meetings.
Student reflections on their experience at the Griffith Mooting Competition 2024.
“Participating in the Griffith University Mooting Competition was a truly eye-opening experience. Not only was I able to gain insight into the ways of mooting and grow in my skills, but I was also able compete with and learn from many talented students. Through mooting, I also gained the chance to collaborate with my fellow teammates. Relying on one another to play our parts served us well, as it helped us grow as a team and assisted us in our final placing. The jury activity led by Griffith University professors also allowed us students to foster a deeper empathy for jurors, as it helped us realise the heavy burden placed on them to come to the right verdict. I truly enjoyed this experience and have no doubt that it has benefited me in future potential moots. I am sincerely grateful to both Mrs Rebgetz and my teammates for such a wonderful and fulfilling competition."
Alice Yao - Junior Council
“Overall, mooting was a great experience and I am proud to be a part of the team this year! What I enjoyed most about mooting was the fact it pushed me outside my comfort zone and taught me a lot about the importance of communication and time management. The preparation process was long but it definitely paid off in the end! I was thrilled to place on the day, but the activity itself taught me so much! When we weren't mooting, we took part in the 'You be the Jury' activity hosted by Robyn Blewer. The activity used real cases which showcased the importance evidence and interpretation. In addition, on the day I was able to meet so many new people and develop my social networking skills. Mooting gave me a great insight into what a future of law looks like! I recommend it to anyone and everyone! Lastly, I would like to express my appreciation to Mrs Rebgetz, who helped Alice and I significantly through the whole journey and made this season not only a successful one, but an enjoyable one too!"
Rihanna Patel – Senior Counsel
QAHS Mooters that competed in the Griffith High School Mooting Competition 2024 showed a strong desire in continuing their mooting journey in the future.
Alan Morris
Year 10 Instructing Solicitor