Students in Guernsey and Cayman are once being invited to take part in this year's Collas Crill Moot.
The Moot provides students from the Sixth Form College, Blanchelande College, Elizabeth College and the Ladies' College in Guernsey, and from Cayman Prep High School, Cayman International School (CIS), Clifton Hunter, St Ignatius Catholic School and - for the first time this year - John Gray High School in Cayman, with the chance to participate in a mock trial competition.
Last year around 100 students in Guernsey and 40 students in Cayman took part in the competition.
This is the 17th year the initiative has run in Guernsey and the third year for Cayman. Jersey will be running the Moot for the first time this year - more to come on this.
The Moot involves students studying real-life legal case notes on a number of scenarios including criminal, employment and defamation trials, and applying them to a mock court situation.
Participants are mentored and coached by Collas Crill lawyers throughout the four-round competition and judged by some of the firm's partners during the mock trials.
For aspiring lawyers the Moot teaches the basics of certain aspects of law and provides a fantastic opportunity to experience the drama of the courtroom first hand. For those not looking to pursue a legal career, the Moot provides the chance to improve on their communication, presentation, research and analytical skills.
The students must present their arguments in front of a Judge (played by some of Collas Crill's attorneys) and are marked on their court etiquette, persuasiveness, clarity, body language, legal argument and time-keeping.
Cayman
St Ignatius were the victors in last year's Moot in Cayman, which took place in the Cayman Islands Courthouse. In 2023 Collas Crill partnered with the Constitutional Commission of the Cayman Islands for the final round of the competition, with Annikki Hill of the Constitutional Commission on the tribunal along with Collas Crill Partner Matt Dors and Managing Partner Stephen Leontsinis. .
Stephen said: 'As a firm we are so proud of how the Moot has grown year on year, and how it has been embraced by both the schools and wider community. Last year we welcomed St Ignatius and this year we are delighted to welcome John Gray High School to take part.
'We are committed to developing and investing in the youth of the Cayman Islands and the Moot is very much a team effort. The attorneys and staff at Collas Crill in Cayman have formed a real partnership with the teachers and students and this shows when you see the Moot play out over the various rounds. I look forward to building on the success of the past two Moots and wish this year's students the best of luck.'
Guernsey
In 2023 The Ladies' College and Elizabeth College reached the final, with Ladies' College taking home the Moot trophy for the second consecutive year.
The final was played out in the Royal Court with Deputy Bailiff, Jessica Roland taking the role of head judge on the the judging panel with Collas Crill Partner Wayne Atkinson and Training Principal and Partner Ben Havard
Ben said: 'We are proud of how the Moot has grown and evolved over the years. It has been running in Guernsey for 17 years now and 2024 marks the third year we have run the competition in Cayman. In a first we are also running the Moot in Jersey for the first time this year.
'We have a number of trainees, associates and senior associates who have, over the years, come through the Moot to work at Collas Crill. It has become a rite of passage for our new trainees to organise the competition so for trainees like Isabelle it tends to come full circle.'
Collas Crill trainee solicitors Isabelle Walker and Elise Mellor visited The Ladies' College on 19 September to present to year 12 students about the Moot and why they should consider talking part. Isabelle and Elise were both previous Moot participants.
'I would recommend taking part in the Moot. It certainly gave me a real taste of what a career as a lawyer would involve. Fast forward a few years and I am now a trainee solicitor at Collas Crill! That said friends of mine who also took part and didn't pursue a legal career found the skills they learned during the Moot to be just as useful in their chosen career paths. How to present your argument, how to communicate effectively and how to present yourself in various situations are all skills that can help you develop in any career,' said Isabelle.
Elise Mellor and Isebelle Walker at The Ladies' College, Guernsey
Kirsten Bailey and Henriette Lindenberg launching the Moot to Cayman students