ELE 3802 Legal Competitions and Practical Advocacy
ELE 3802 Legal Competitions and Practical Advocacy
This course provides students with an opportunity to apply legal principles in practice, through participation in simulated courtroom proceedings. A simulated trial will replicate court proceedings, with students assuming roles of attorneys, judges and arbitrators. Students will learn to present their arguments in a persuasive and structured manner, experience the challenges of an adversarial legal settings, and learn to handle complex court dynamics.
The simulated proceedings will be in the form of internal, national and international legal competitions. At the beginning of the semester, students will be given a comprehensive set of legal documents resembling a real-world dispute and will be expected to represent a client party. The legal problem will be provided either externally, through established national and international legal competitions, or internally, through a course-organized competition. Students will be expected to develop the skills to argue against other course participants, as well as external parties.
Students will work in teams to research the case, prepare legal briefs, and develop oral arguments. To successfully complete the course, students must submit a written memorandum on behalf of the party they represent, as well as present oral arguments in the case. The course is graded based on the simulated internal hearing and is not contingent upon performance and results of an external competition.
The candidate:
- is familiar with the methodologies for analyzing legal issues from diverse legal sources, including statutory, case law, and non-statutory legal principles.
- has broad knowledge of legal principles within a portfolio of subjects covered by legal competitions.
- understands the process of legal research and brief writing, in the context of complex submissions on behalf of clients.
- understands the rules and practices of legal argumentation in the context of mock trials and legal disputes.
- has insight into courtroom and tribunal protocols and rules, as applied in both national and international legal competitions and moot court settings.
- is familiar with comparative legal systems and the structure of legal competitions globally.
- has knowledge of practical legal strategies.
- has insight into oral advocacy techniques and presentation of legal arguments in formal, adversarial settings.
The candidate:
- can conduct thorough legal research, applying relevant case law, statutes, and legal precedents to address complex legal issues in competition scenarios.
- can construe arguments based on relevant evidence, identifying the facts to support their legal arguments.
- can draft complex and practical legal documents such as memoranda, support briefs, and other written submissions with clarity and structure.
- can present legal arguments orally in a persuasive and professional manner before a panel of judges or in a moot court setting.
- can collaborate effectively in teams, managing legal challenges, organizing arguments, and presenting group conclusions in a professional manner.
- can advocate legal positions effectively through well-prepared oral submissions in a formal or court-like environment, while thinking and acting under time constraints.
The candidate:
- can apply legal knowledge and advocacy skills independently, making informed decisions in various legal and professional contexts, including real-world legal disputes.
- can present and defend legal assessments and conclusions in a professional and coherent manner, both in written submissions and through oral presentations.
- can demonstrate high professional awareness, through self-directed learning.
- can adapt to new challenges, through developing an ability to make quick decisions under pressure.
- can collaborate effectively, working in teams to solve legal problems, share knowledge, and develop joint legal strategies.
- can successfully operate in an international legal environment, engaging with professionals from various cultural and legal backgrounds, developing an understanding of differing legal arguments, perspectives, and professional responsibilities.
This course centers on competitive legal proceedings, simulating real-world courtroom environments. Students participate in adversarial mock trials, assuming roles of legal professionals such as attorneys, judges, and arbitrators. The course utilizes internal, national, and international legal competition formats to structure these simulations.
At the semester's start, students receive a set of legal documents representing a complex dispute. This case material may come from established external competitions or be developed internally for the course. Working in teams, students represent assigned client parties. They engage with both course participants and, where applicable, external international and national competitors. The legal issues covered vary, reflecting the diverse nature of competition problems, which may span multiple areas of law.
Students will be expected to develop a comprehensive set of written legal arguments resembling a formal legal submission in a complex dispute. Following this, they will present their claims on the topic in an adversarial legal setting, and are expected to both present their own arguments, and address counter-arguments by other parties.
The course includes workshops on legal writing and oral advocacy techniques. These sessions are led by course instructors, with input from practicing lawyers and other legal professionals. Students also engage in peer review exercises, critiquing each other's written and oral presentations. Interaction with students from other institutions participating in the same competition will likely occur, typically through virtual environment and digital meetings.
Regular practice hearings take place throughout the semester, providing opportunities for students to present their arguments in a formal setting. The course includes dedicated time for independent research and team meetings. Writing guidance is available, with students receiving feedback on their legal documents from instructors and, where permitted, external legal experts.
Students will also have the opportunity to submit a written argument, and receive feedback, in support of their final oral presentation.
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Higher Education Entrance Qualification
Disclaimer
Deviations in teaching and exams may occur if external conditions or unforeseen events call for this.
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| Assessments |
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Exam category: Activity, Oral Form of assessment: Presentation Exam/hand-in semester: First Semester Weight: 100 Grouping: Individual Duration: 30 Minute(s) Exam code: ELE 38021 Grading scale: ECTS Resit: Examination when next scheduled course |
| Activity | Duration | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Teaching | 45 Hour(s) | |
Student's own work with learning resources | 154.5 Hour(s) | |
Examination | 0.5 Hour(s) |
A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.
