The National Mooting Association of Antigua and Barbuda is gearing up for its third annual Fortis Advocatus Moot Court Competition, a simulation of court proceedings in the form of a hypothetical mock trial.
This year, the association has welcomed students of the T A Marryshow Community College in Grenada to compete in the 2023 Fortis Advocatus Moot Court Competition.
Twelve Antiguan students from the Antigua State Collage and the St Anthony’s Secondary School along with six Grenadian students registered their participation in a moot court competition held at the High Court of Antigua and Barbuda.
The aim of the competition is to educate and train law students on the inner workings of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and allow for the development of research, writing and advocacy skills.
The 18 students were paired in teams of two where they prepared written memorials in February on a given fact pattern to vie for a spot in the semi-final round.
After the qualifying round, four of the nine teams — two from Grenada and two from Antigua and Barbuda — advanced to the semi-finals where they will display their oral advocacy skills representing the Prosecution and Defence respectively at the High Court of Antigua and Barbuda before a panel of esteemed judges which comprise of judicial officers and senior legal professionals.
Preparation for the competition spans from September to April each year. During this time the association conducts a number of workshops in legal research and writing, oral advocacy and court etiquette, in addition to individual coaching sessions to prepare the teams for their submissions.
The teams will not only be competing for the title, but also for prestigious internships and cash prizes for the winning and second place teams, best advocate, best written memorial and best academic institution.
The Grenadian students, their coaches and tournament liaisons, Jasmin Redhead and Sheriece Noel, are expected to travel to Antigua on March 30 for the semifinal round on March 31, and the final Round on April 1.
The final round of the competition will be livestreamed on the associations’ Facebook page, Antigua and Barbuda National Mooting Association.
Each year the competition is sponsored by Richards & Company, Attorneys-at-Law as well as the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs in Antigua and Barbuda. In addition, the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Committee has now partnered with the association to sponsor the competition.
The directors committee of the association comprises Attorneys-at-Law Andrena Athill, Kemar Roberts, Jeniece St Romain, and Curtis Cornelius.