11 February 2010: College of Law Team Wins Inner Temple’s Inter-Varsity Mooting Competition
A team of aspiring barristers from The College of Law demonstrated their ability to argue compellingly and think on their feet by taking first prize in the prestigious Inter-Varsity 2010 mooting competition.
Mevlude Akay, aged 22, and Thomas Evans, aged 25, beat off competition from 19 other teams from universities and legal education providers across the UK to win the competition, held on February 7 by the Inner Temple Mooting Society.
(L-R): Thomas Evans, The College of Law; Alastair Hodge, 5 Essex Court; Christopher Brougham QC; Philip Moser, Monckton Chambers and Mevlude Akay, The College of Law
The pair, currently studying the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) at the College’s Bloomsbury centre, competed in five rounds over the course of the day debating human rights issues arising from the prosecution of a minor for sexual relations with another minor.
They were awarded a £150 cash prize and a week’s mini-pupillage sponsored by Monckton Chambers. They also received a year's subscription from the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting to the Weekly Law Reports.
Thomas said: “Mooting provides an invaluable opportunity to build up your confidence in public speaking, but most importantly it allows you to share your ideas with someone else and learn from that experience. I was especially lucky to be partnered with Mevlude Akay, who is not only extremely talented, but always good-natured in the face of adversity, and a constant pleasure to work with.”
The competition judges were academics from the participating universities as well as barristers including Philip Moser from Monckton Chambers, Alastair Hodge from 5 Essex Court and Christopher Brougham QC.
Anne-Marie Critchley, College of Law BVC tutor said: “With less than two weeks' notice Mevlude and Tom researched a tricky area of law, drafted skeleton arguments for both Appellant and Respondent and prepared oral arguments, which they then presented in five "hearings" during the course of a single day. They did this in addition to their BVC workload and with no help from tutors. They beat stiff opposition from Britain's top universities and deserve to be congratulated. It's a great omen for successful careers at the Bar.”
Further information from Lucy Wray, Press Officer, The College of Law on 01483 216072 (lucy.wray@lawcol.co.uk)
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