Five years ago, a shiny, striking building was unveiled as a new centrepoint for UTS. This series of blog posts explores the innovations, challenges and opportunities of this grand space, from its sustainable food courts to its collaborative classrooms. In the first part of this new series, we head to the upper floors of UTS Central, where Julian Dight lifts the lid on moot court spaces that put our Law students ‘on trial’ in a work-integrated learning transition to the workplace.
Why mooting?
Mooting prepares students for the real world of Law by training them in how to prepare and deliver effective arguments in a court-like setting. Advocates need to know the law, and they need to be persuasive in how they deliver their arguments to the judicial officer sitting at the bench. Mooting can train students in the skills required to be a good advocate.
A transitional step
The moot courts prepare students for the real world as they provide a realistic setting for students to practice their advocacy skills. Transition to working in Law is not a huge step as students will enter the workplace being familiar with the procedures and processes of the court system. It’s important for them to get to grips with court etiquette such as how to address the court and how to make submissions and arguments to the bench. Students who have mooted will be better placed for the rough and tumble of real-world advocacy.
The benefits of a new space
The new moot courts in Building 2 are designed to reflect the real-life courtroom experience of the NSW Supreme and District Courts. They open up great opportunities for students to practice their mooting skills and to engage in court-like activities in readiness for their lives as advocates. The courts allow the Student Law Society to run mooting competitions year-round and provide realistic settings in which they can act out roles as barristers’ and judges.
The moot courts’ realistic nature has provided students with the training in how to conduct themselves in a court-like setting. As well as simulating the real-world legal proceedings of NSW, these spaces are fitted with modern technologies now found in Australian courts, including video link-ups for remote witness testimony.
Mooting in a classroom doesn’t provide the same atmosphere or environment as these moot courts can. Even a simple touch like a coat of arms above the bench adds to the realistic setting. Access and use of this innovative space allows our students to role play as advocates would in the real world, and sets them up for success as lawyers.