The English-Speaking Union is currently accepting entries for the 2006-07 ESU-Essex Court Chambers National Mooting Competition, the largest and oldest mooting competition in the country. Founded in 1972 as the Observer Moot, it has a tradition of attracting the very best legal brains as its judges and producing the next generation of them from its competitors. The 2005-06 competition was won by Queen Mary, University of London with the University of Birmingham as runners-up.
We are delighted that Essex Court Chambers are sponsoring the competition for the seventh year running. Essex Court Chambers is one of the country’s ‘magic circle’ commercial barristers’ chambers and their involvement with all areas of the competition is a great asset.
The competition involves knock-out rounds spread across the academic year. Rounds are held around the country, hosted by entrant universities, until the Semi-Finals and Final in London in June 2007. First rounds must be over by mid-December 2006. The winning team receives the prestigious Silver Mace, £1,000 each and £1,000 for their institution, while the runners-up receive the Scarman Shield, £750 each and £500 for their institution, courtesy of the generosity of Essex Court Chambers.
We welcome entries from each and every one of the UK’s law departments, and encourage those institutions who have not previously participated to take part. To enter please fill out the staff entry form available on this website and return it to jenny_zhu@esu.org no later than Friday 15th September. In addition, we require the £25 entry fee (see entry form for postal address) and a moot problem which may be used during the course of the competition. For more information on the problem please see the staff entry form. Please include the name and contact details of the problem setter in case the National Adjudicator should need to ask for clarification. After term has started we ask that you nominate a student contact and that they return their form, also available on this website, to us by Friday 13th October.
Round deadlines will be contained within the competition handbook which will be sent to your institution by the end of October, along with more information regarding the administration of the competition, and details of your first round draw. A copy of the handbook will also be available at this website. Team places are limited to 64. We will however endeavour to include everyone via bye-rounds.
For more information contact vivienne_thomson@esu.org.
