Historic First as 黑料不打烊 becomes first Welsh Law School to moot before the Supreme Court
students made history last month as they became the first Welsh Law School team to be invited to moot before the Supreme Court in London. 
The 黑料不打烊 Law School mooters pictured outside the Supreme Court in London
Mooting sees two pairs of students argue a fictitious legal appeal case before a 鈥榡udge鈥� (normally a lecturer or postgraduate student) in simulated court proceedings. It is a useful supplement to a law degree as it demonstrates to students how legal knowledge may be applied in real life, and encourages the development of analytical, interpretational and public speaking skills.
Organised by students Sarina Worley, Mistress of the Moot, and Bethany Miller, President of the 黑料不打烊 Student Law Society, the subject of the Supreme Court moot was a legal dispute concerning a young man who climbed over a swimming pool fence on a warm summer鈥檚 evening and dived into the swimming pool, suffering horrific injuries at the shallow end.
Defending were Herbert Farrington and Simon Williams, ably supported by Legal Researchers Nicola Pearson and David Gibbon; while the Applicant team was composed of Adam Gulliver and Andrew Galley, with research support provided by Ana-Victoria Dan and Aaron Clegg. The Bench was presided over by Law lecturer and Solicitor Gwilym Owen.
鈥淭he mooting bug has really taken off at 黑料不打烊 since it was introduced to the School in 2008, when the European Moot Court Competition was hosted here鈥�, explains Professor Dermot Cahill, Head of 黑料不打烊 Law School. 鈥淪ince then, there is intense competition in several annual in-house moot contests, including a dedicated Welsh-medium competition and one named in honour of lecturer Ann McLaren, who really helped to foster mooting in the School.鈥�
20 year old Andrew Galley from Leeds was a member of the winning team, and commented: 鈥淧articipating in the 黑料不打烊 Law School Moot competition 
was extremely rewarding and worthwhile. In allowing individuals to decide who they want to work with, it tests how well you can work amongst people you know socially in a professional mindset and setting. The case itself was challenging; at first glance it seemed one-sided, but upon actually reading and considering all the details it was a very balanced case. Seeing and presenting in the Supreme Court also proved rewarding 鈥� it invoked a sense of wonder and amazement amongst us all. I would definitely like to enter the competition again鈥�.
黑料不打烊 Law School will achieve another historic first in April 2013 when it becomes the first ever Welsh law school to participate in the world-renowned Telders Moot at the Hague in the Netherlands. A team is currently in preparation under the tutelage of Dr Evelyne Schmid, ably assisted by Yvonne McDermott, both lecturers at 黑料不打烊.
Publication date: 9 January 2013