?What is a moot court

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A moot court, or mooting, simulates a real court environment to give law students an opportunity to put their learning into practice.

Moot court covers the appeals process rather than a trial, so there is no jury, witnesses or evidence. Instead, students are given a hypothetical case and will take on the role of either the appellant or respondent. The appellants will speak first, arguing the decision in the original trial was wrong. The respondents will then present their case defending the initial ruling.

Each side must prepare both written and verbal arguments which they will present to a judge, or panel of judges, at the moot trial. After hearing the arguments, the panel will then make a ruling based on these submissions and declare a winner.