Conducting the moot

The International Law Moot Competition will be held in English. The mooters will be seated on either side of a sufficiently large table with the Clerk at the head (or alternatively seated to one side of the head). The Judge is seated on a separate table (or raised dais) behind the Clerk. Senior Counsel are seated closest to the Clerk, Junior Counsel farthest. The Clerk of the Court will ask ‘Who appears?’ Following the order of speaking is shown in the order of presentation (above). All mooters will take turns to address the court from the head of the table opposite the Judge, beginning with Junior Counsel for the appellant, who must state the case by introducing all Counsel present. For example, one form of introduction could be...

‘Your Honour, my name is Miss. A, and I appear for the Appellant in this action, along with my Learned Senior, Mr. B. My Learned Friends, Mr. C and his Learned Senior, Miss D., appear for the Respondent.’ It is then standard practice for the Junior Counsel to ask: ‘Is your Honour sufficiently familiar with the facts of the case/present appeal?’

If the Judge requires a recital of the facts of the case, Junior Counsel should provide a very brief summary of the facts, prepared in advance. Junior Counsel then gives a short outline of the arguments to be presented by the Appellant's team, indicating which points will be dealt with by Junior Counsel, and which will be dealt with by Senior Counsel. Counsel will then proceed to put forward the submissions, generally beginning by requesting "With your Honour's permission I will proceed with my first submission." Following the submissions, Counsel should conclude with a brief summary. At the conclusion, Counsel should state: 'That concludes my submissions for the Appellant. Can I be of any further assistance?' If there are no questions, Counsel returns to his/her seat.

Then Junior Counsel for the Respondent makes submissions. The Respondent should not repeat any of the previous introductions or the statement of facts. Junior Counsel should follow the formula given above. However, the Respondent Counsel should, in addition to making submissions, respond to points raised by the Appellant Junior Counsel.

Senior Counsel for the Appellant will then address the court, replying to points raised by the respondent Junior, before making submissions. At the close, Senior Counsel briefly summarises all of the Appellant's submissions (Junior and Senior) and concludes by stating clearly what action the Appellant wishes the court to take. For example, "For the above reasons, we respectfully request that the Appeal be upheld." Senior Counsel for the Respondent will then address the court, replying to the arguments put by the preceding Senior, making submissions, summing up all Respondent submissions, and stating what action the Respondent wishes the court to take. For example, that the appeal be refused.

At the conclusion of the moot the Clerk will ask the Judge whether judgment will be given immediately or whether the Judge wishes a brief pause (sometimes referred to as 'taking avizandum'). If the Judge indicates that a pause will be necessary the Clerk will ask the Court to rise and all present stand while the Judge withdraws.