Collas Crill launches sixth annual Moot for Guernsey students

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Collas Crill's sixth annual Moot is now underway with teams from the Guernsey College of Further Education, Grammar School, Elizabeth College and Ladies' College preparing their arguments for the first event next week.

The Moot is a mock-trial competition for the Island's year 12 students, who are coached and judged by the experts at the Channel Island law firm.

Coaches from the firm this year include two former Moot participants - Kelly Vincent and Ben Le Page - who have now joined the firm and are bringing their experience to their roles as coaches.

The Moot involves pairs of students studying real legal principles and case law and applying each to a fictional scenario in a mock courtroom setting.

"The Moot is not aimed solely at those interested in a career in law; it provides an invaluable opportunity to improve on the students' communication, presentation, research, problem solving and analysis skills. These are key skills that will assist them as they move onto higher education and beyond," said Collas Crill's Alex Wickens.

The students take the roles of Advocates to the Collas Crill Court and must present their arguments in front of a Judge (usually one of the firm's partners).

The Advocates are marked on their courtroom etiquette, clarity, body language, legal arguments and time-keeping.

The Moot programme consists of three coaching sessions and three Moot rounds, where students compete against an opposing team of Advocates to argue that week's fictional scenario.

The two teams with the highest scores at the end of the three rounds face each other in a grand final to become Collas Crill's Moot Champions 2013.

The Moot is run this year by Collas Crill associates Alex Wickens and Ben Havard, assisted by Valerie Weeks and Jackie Mauger. Schools coaches are Chris Martel, Tom Cutts-Watson, David Wilson, Kelly Vincent, Jessica Hobbs and Ben Le Page, who come from a range of professional backgrounds at Collas Crill.

Find more information on the Moot at http://www.collascrill.com/the-moot.aspx