Oxford Mooting

The Oxford Legal Assistance Immigration Law Mooting Competition

WHAT IS OXFORD LEGAL ASSISTANCE?

Oxford Legal Assistance (OLA) is the University of Oxford’s undergraduate legal aid scheme. It runs a number of projects including an immigration clinic at Turpin and Miller Solicitors in Cowley. In the clinic trained second year undergraduates interview clients and take a first draft of instructions in fixed fee legal aid immigration cases. OLA therefore offers students a unique opportunity to gain valuable real life experience and to help those in our community in need of legal assistance.

The Immigration Law Moot is open to all undergraduates, and it is hoped that first year students interested in volunteering for OLA next year (next year’s student executive committee and volunteers will be selected later in Trinity) as well as anyone in any year with an interest in immigration law will apply to take part. As immigration law is not taught as an undergraduate module no specific knowledge is required.

Format of the moot

The mooting will be done in teams of two.  As stated above, the moot is open to all undergraduates and teams can be formed across colleges, year groups and even degrees.

The moot is a "lightning competition".  It involves arguing the same problem (10 minutes per counsel) on three occasions on Saturday morning before finalists are chosen. The Semi-Final and Grand Final stages take place in the afternoon.

How to apply

12 teams will be selected to compete. The selection of the 12 teams will be on the basis of the 12 best skeleton arguments received.