Course Code : LAW 304 and LAW 305 and LAW 405
Course Title : MOOTING AND LEGAL DEBATING I and II and III
Weekly Teaching Hour: 3-hours lecture per week, 1 (1-hour) tutorial every week
Who may enrol : Compulsory for Year 3 and Year 4 (Junior & Senior) LLB. Students
Prerequisites : N/A
Lecturer : To be announced on August 2020
Description : The course aims to enable students to: • participate in debating in a legal context • participate in mooting • explain the structure, rules, methods, conventions and principles of mooting and debating; • question and challenge others’ ideas and arguments and develop their own skills of persuasion and argument • research areas of law, practice and legal theory and apply this research appropriately in their arguments • develop skills of deductive reasoning and cite authorities and evidence in support of arguments • use and apply correct forms of address and protocol • identify, evaluate and contribute to debates on law • explain how law is made and applied with particular emphasis on judicial precedent and statutory interpretation;
COURSE CONTENT Indicative syllabus content: In the first half of the course students will participate in moots within a court room setting and review demonstration moots. They will practice extracting legal issues and arguments from case studies or appeal summaries, identify and write out issues for appeal from legal arguments, research and formulate arguments and consider these within a group context, discuss approaches to and conduct advocacy, consider and apply appropriate courtroom protocols in a simulated environment, summarise arguments and review each other’s’ contributions. In the second half of the course students will participate in debates of topical law related issues. They will be expected to draw on their knowledge of other areas of law, such as criminal law or public law to research into an issue and construct an argument. Students will gain knowledge of debating protocols within the introductory sessions and then apply these within a debate. Students will be expected to lead the debate and participate in the debate by raising questions and putting forward arguments in the open session. They will develop their skills of reasoning, criticising and persuading and their presentation skills and review each other’s’ contributions.
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES On successful completion of this course a student will be able to: 1. Evaluate and research the legal issues underpinning the moot or debate 2. Identify and articulate appropriate evidence or authority 3. Present an argument as a participant in a moot and in a debate, applying appropriate protocols 4. Evaluate others’ arguments and statements 5. Question and challenge others’ arguments in a logical and rational way
TEACHING METHODS The course will be delivered via introductory lectures, supporting seminars and interactive debates and moots. The purpose of the lectures is to introduce the protocols, rules and structures of debates and moots and to demonstrate mooting. The aim of seminars is to allow students to prepare for and engage in moots and debates and to assess and discuss each other’s’ contributions.
Recommended Textbook (s) and Supplementary Books :
- Reading lists and other materials will be provided for students registered on the course via online by lecturer.
Course Assessment:
This course is assessed through a Moot and a Legal Debate.
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Class Participation 10%,
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Mid-term Examination 40%,
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Final Examination 50%,
Attendance 95 % compulsory.