Advanced Advocacy and Communication (Mooting) (11285.1)

Availability

Syllabus

This unit provides students with an advanced level training in legal advocacy, with the added bonus of potentially representing the university at high-profile mooting competitions at national or international levels.

Students will learn to develop professional-level written and oral advocacy skills needed in different areas of law, and will have the opportunity to test those skills in competitions replicating various dispute resolution fora like state courts, negotiation, mediation, or arbitration. This advanced level elective builds on skills developed in the introductory Advocacy and communication unit, and enables students to prepare for the demands of professional practice. Representing the university in competitions is internally competitive, with only the best students earning the privilege to do so. Any international component of mooting involving travel abroad is organised in collaboration with the UC Study Abroad Office.

This unit may be co-taught with a PG version of the unit.

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate advanced legal advocacy skills, including research, analysis, application of legal principles, oral and written legal arguments in complex cases, in selected areas of national or international law;

2. Show awareness of the policy considerations implicit in developing law and legal arguments at national or international level;

3. Confidently and competently present and refute detailed legal arguments, while being exposed to intense questioning;

4. Demonstrate appropriate courtroom etiquette, interpersonal attitudes and ethical behaviour; and

5. Perform professional work in a team, while under high pressure.

Contact Hours

Three hours of face-to-face seminars per week. In addition, students will be required to travel off campus to competitions.

Prerequisites

This unit is only available to students in a Bachelor of Laws course.

Students must have passed at least 48 credit points, including units 11251 Foundations of Law and Justice and 11258 Advocacy and Communication.

Corequisites

None.

Assumed Knowledge

None.

Equivalent Units

8685 Mooting