On Wednesday, 6 May, Alex Goth (11/MA), Jeremi Campese (11/MA), Jack Ryan (11/KL) and Spencer Cornish (11/ME) found themselves facing the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Sydney. Fortunately not because they were called to be on trial, but rather they were competing in the regional round of the Bond University High School Mooting Competition. As a national competition, only two schools from each region would reach the final to be held later in August on the Gold Coast.

Mooting involves preparing a legal argument for a set problem with the aim of introducing students to a courtroom environment and giving them an insight into the legal system. As the Respondent of our case, we represented a tourist company, arguing that the warning on their resort should have been sufficient enough in deterring a 17 year-old girl from rolling down a dune and suffering serious neck injures. In the case the girl alleged negligence and sought damages of $4,000,000.

While Jack and Spencer composed the written submissions, Alex and his junior Jeremi presented our oral submissions for the two judges. As mooting is judged on the advocacy skills of the participants more so than the merits of the case, and it speaks to Alex and Jeremi’s ability to remain compelling and persuasive despite the judges’ efforts to sidetrack them with their unending interruptions and questioning.

Though we faced the Tara School on the day, only two schools in the region would be chosen for the final. Of the 20 that competed in Sydney, Newington has been selected in the final to be held on Saturday 1 August. A big thank you to Ms Shepherd and Brad Smith (ON 2011) for their hard work and coaching over the last few months, we truly couldn’t have done it without them.

 Jack Ryan (11/KL)
Mooting Team Member