Moot Court Competition is launched at the GCC level

Higher Committee of Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum invites talented young law students to participate in contest

Dubai 25th November 2013: The Higher Committee of the Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Initiatives for Legal Excellence has announced the launch of the third session of its Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Moot Court Competition at the GCC level. The competition is one of the Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Initiatives for Legal Excellence, and it is organised annually by the Dubai Courts and a group of its strategic partners.

The Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Moot Court Competition Question was launched during a press conference held today in the presence of H.E. Dr. Ahmed Saeed Bin Hazeem, General Manager of Dubai Courts and President of the Higher Committee of the Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Initiatives for Legal Excellence. Also present were a number of many university law schools from every corner of the UAE. In the implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Patron of the Initiatives, the competition is addressed to male and female students in law schools of all universities within the UAE and the GCC countries.

The President of the Higher Committee of the Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Initiatives for Legal Excellence stated that the Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Moot Court Competition is a scientific contest, which consists of two rounds. The first is the preparation of written submissions based on real facts or virtual ones (the case), and the second is multiple rounds of oral arguments carried out before a jury, which is carried out competitively between the contesting teams from participating universities and schools.

He pointed out that the competition aims to build bridges of communication between the judicial systems and law schools, to stimulate the ambitions and dreams of law school students with regard to working in the judicial field, and to provide them with an opportunity to practice legal activities within a realistic setting. It is also intended to raise the spirit of competition among law schools in order to improve the practical ability of students, to raise the reputation of the judicial systems in the areas of leadership and excellence in the community, and to discover the most distinguished students in preparation for attracting them to work in the judicial system.

The President of the Higher Committee of the Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Initiatives for Legal Excellence also announced the question of the third session of the 2014 Moot Court Competition. The question in point concerns a case between an international bank and a defendant who is the owner of a commercial enterprise in Dubai. The defendant approached the bank to obtain several loans, but has not paid them off. And after non-compliance in payment obligations, the settlement transferred into a case.

The Moot Court Competition is launched in line with the vision of creating a generation which is legally acquainted. It aims to provide the participating students with practical skills and techniques of persuasion, proficiency in the preparation of regulations, self-confidence, the ability to improvise, experience in the preparation of hearing plans, and representation of adversaries via real or virtual applications. The competition also aims to increase the skills of students with regard to analysing, researching and developing legal rules, and applying them practically by pleading before a jury. Finally, the competition aims to develop methods of training by combining the applied aspects of theoretical knowledge. This in turn contributes to increasing the efficacy of university and law school graduates.

It was also announced during the press conference that the opportunity would be given for all universities and law schools in the GCC countries that grant bachelor's degrees in law or Sharia law, or its equivalent, to participate in the competition. Each university is entitled to participate with a team consisting of four male or female students, with all contestants required to be citizens of the GCC countries and registered in universities and schools within those countries.

The organiser will be responsible for the complete overseeing of the competition. The competition question has been prepared, and will be distributed to all teams wishing to participate in the competition well ahead of the deadline for the general rounds, in accordance with the programme approved by the Higher Committee.

Universities and schools wishing to participate in the competition must take all requisite actions and steps in order to select students, and plan their efforts to ensure preparation for participation in the competition. They must also hand the application form with the written submissions attached to the Competition Director, in accordance with the schedule approved by the Higher Committee.

In addition, providing a copy of the passport or ID, and a copy of student academic cards of those participating for identity purposes is also a must. Participating students are also required to complete a form approving their participation. After the registration deadline, no changes will be accepted in accordance with the schedule approved by the Higher Committee.

The Competition Organising Committee stipulates each participating team will prepare two separate written submissions from both case parties, containing the facts of the virtual case that they have been provided with, as well as references, legal arguments and closing requests. These shall contain the name of the university and school represented by the team at the top right of the page, and will reference the title of the competition as ‘Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Moot Court Competition' in the centre of the page. The type of submission (first party of the case / second party of the case) will be entered at the bottom of the page, and also in the table of contents.

The competition is arbitrated by juries which will evaluate all the participating teams, and monitor grades after the assessment of written submissions has taken place. This will involve the evaluation of written submissions within both sections. This process will remain confidential, and the results will be added to the grades given to teams after evaluating the oral hearing, during which teams will receive further evaluation. After the end of each moot court session, the jury will fill out the evaluation form and submit it to the Competition Director. The evaluation form is confidential and may not be disclosed to any party whatsoever, even until after the end of the competition. The evaluation results will be announced at the end of each round.

The students will compete on several awards including: Overall Excellence Award – which is granted to the team that receives the highest rating of total evaluation points for both written lawsuit and oral hearing in the final round; Best Team in Written Submissions Award – which is bestowed upon the team that receives the highest rating for the written submissions; Best Team in Oral Hearing Award – which is given to the team that receives the highest rating for the oral hearing in the final round; and the Most Distinctive Student Award – which is rewarded to the most distinguished male or female student in the competition rounds. All of the participants, whether student or mentor, will receive a certificate of appreciation at the end of the competition.

Those wishing to take part can visit the website: www.dc.gov.ae and click on the Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Initiatives for Legal Excellence link to view the competition question and download the registration form.