Students raise the legal debating bar
SOME of the state’s brightest young minds tested their legal prowess in a real-court setting for the final of the 2018 USQ Secondary Schools Moot Competition on Thursday night.
The respondent team of Fairholme College’s Sienna Davis, Lilli Anderson and Alissa Wood defeated Toowoomba State High School team of Kody Buchan, Kaitlyn Cairns and Jemilla Strode Smith.
The final at the Toowoomba Courthouse was judged by Justice Robert Gotterson of the Queensland Court of Appeal, Judge Alexander HornemanWren of the Queensland District Court and USQ Head of Law and Justice Professor Reid Mortensen.
Sienna Davis, a Year 11 student from Fairholme College and barrister for the respondent council in the moot court appeal, said making the final was an experience like no other.
“Our team was excited to be part of it and felt very fortunate to go up against Toowoomba State High School in the final. We have learned so much along the way,” Miss Davis said.
“It was very exciting to be in front of real judges in a real court room.”
The annual contest gives high school legal studies students the chance to extend their learning by experiencing courtroom advocacy and develop and deliver legal arguments within a court environment.
A record 36 teams participated in the 2018 USQ Secondary Schools Moot Competition including schools from Toowoomba, Warwick, Stanthorpe, Kingaroy, Brisbane, Springfield and Ipswich.
Professor Mortensen said the teams had shown a high level of skill throughout the series.
“Throughout the competition I have seen school teams argue their cases and develop their skills and confidence,” he said.
The moot final was run as a fictitious criminal appeal case with students allocated the role of Appellant Counsel acting for the defence or Respondent Counsel acting for the Crown.
“This competition allowed students to gain practical courtroom experience as well as a chance to extend what they are learning in class,” Professor Mortensen said.
“The high level of skill, composure and confidence shown in this final by highschool students was astounding.”