Queen Mary, University
of London is the winning
team in this year’s ESU – Essex Court Chambers National Mooting Competition.
Queen Mary has now won the competition four times in its history but the last
time was 25 years ago in 1981. Michael Attenborough and Vijaiya Poopalasingam
beat off Will Dobson and Peter Littleton representing University of Birmingham
in the exciting evening final, which was held in the President’s Court of the
Royal Courts of Justice last night. The competition, now in its thirty- fourth
year, was judged by a panel chaired by Mr Anthony Diamond QC,
Arbitrator and former Circuit Judge and Judge in charge of the Business List at
the Central London County Court.
The other judges were Bernard Eder QC, and Geraldine Andrews QC – all members
of Essex Court Chambers. Winner Michael Attenborough said: “Entering this prestigious competition
gives us a real taste of what it would be like to have a career at the Bar.”
His partner Vijaiya Pooplasingam added: “And we are delighted that after twenty
five years, the mace returns to East London”
In a moot, two pairs of ‘advocates’ argue a fictitious legal appeal case in
front of a ‘judge’. To win, you do not necessarily have to win the legal case,
but must make the best presentation of your legal arguments. The Queen Mary duo
was speaking for the appellants, University
of Birmingham for the
respondents, tackling the complex but fictional problem of The Swiftrack Action
Group (“SWAG”) v The Office of Railway Supervision (“OffRails”) The winners
received a silver Mace and a prize of £1,000 each. Queen Mary received a
donation of £1,000. The runners up received “The Scarman Shield”, £750 each and
the University of
Birmingham received £500.
The cash prizes were generously donated by Essex Court Chambers where all four
finalists will also be offered a mini-pupillage.
