On Tuesday, 16 April, Amy Scott and Benjamin Molyneux, trainee solicitors from Essex law firm Birkett Long LLP, emerged as the winners of the Law South mooting event. Their victory marks a significant achievement for Birkett Long, as it is the firm's first win in the competition's 12-year history.

Mooting is a simulated courtroom experience in which participants present an oral presentation of a legal issue or problem against an opposing counsel and before a judge. It is perhaps the closest experience that a trainee can have to the courtroom.

During the event, each team of trainees solicitors participated in two moots, with one team acting as the claimant in the first moot and then as a defendant in the second. Each moot was allocated approximately 45 minutes. Each trainee had a certain time limit to present their submissions and respond to any judicial questions. The judge then had 15 minutes to provide comments and make a decision. Teams were evaluated and awarded marks out of 100 for each moot.

 To prepare for the morning moot, participants had to create skeleton arguments and compile an authorities bundle containing relevant case law authorities. Following the completion of the moot, the teams were given only one hour to prepare for an urgent summary judgment application, including the preparation of their submissions.

The judges of the event featured three qualified barristers.

When asked about their success, Amy and Benjamin said, “There was a lot of preparation and hard work involved, but we are both really pleased to bring home the trophy – a first victory for Birkett Long in this competition.”

 Congratulations; the future is bright!