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Mooting


What is a Moot?

A moot is a mock court proceeding in which two pairs of advocates argue a fictitious legal case in front of a judge. Students aim to make the best presentation of their legal arguments. Each advocate has a set time to present their argument, rebut those of his or her opponent, and answer questions asked by the judge. Points are awarded for advocacy skills, quality of argument and legal research – even if the law is against you.

Mooting develops a range of professional skills including; analysis, interpretation, argument and public speaking. Mooting is also a great way of meeting new people, developing teamwork skills and, if you are successful in the international competitions, exploring the globe. 

There is an active mooting community at King’s with students from The Dickson Poon School of Law regularly taking part in national and international competitions. 

About Mooting at the School

The School also supports our many Student Society led moot competitions meaning that students have numerous opportunities to practice their oral advocacy.

Mooting is overseen by the School’s Director of Mooting and supported by the Student Experience Manager. Current students can find out more about current moots and how to get involved on our intranet / KEATS Professional Law pages.

The Herbert Smith Freehills Competition Law Moot

The Dickson Poon School of Law is very proud to offer students from across the world the opportunity to participate in the Herbert Smith Freehills Competition Law Moot, 2025 edition. The competition is generously sponsored by Herbert Smith Freehills, one of the world’s leading law firms.

Teams are invited to submit memoranda which will be marked by competition law academics and practitioners. The 12 teams with the highest marked memoranda will be invited to an Oral Round. The competition provides an excellent opportunity for students to practise and improve advocacy skills in front of a judging panel drawn from international competition law specialists.

The Oral Round of the Moot is expected to take place fully in-person at King’s College London, Strand campus.

Scholarship

The Herbert Smith Freehills Competition Law Moot is delighted to offer one scholarship of £2000 to pay towards the costs of participating in the Oral Round for student members of a team from a University in a Medium or Low HDI Country (based on the UNDP Human Development Index). This scholarship will be awarded to the student members of the team with the highest score in the Written Round and which qualifies to participate in the Oral Round.

With thanks to our partner Concurrences, temporary access to its database will be granted to all participating teams in the period of drafting the written pleadings. Team members from the two finalist teams will also be awarded with a One Year Subscription to Concurrences’ database and a selection of ebooks.

2025 Competition timeline

Publication of the problem question

2 December 2024

Registration opens

2 December 2024

Deadline for registration

24 January 2025

Deadline for requesting clarifications

24 January 2025

Publication of clarifications

17 February 2025

Deadline for submission of written pleadings

21 March 2025 (23.59pm UK time)

Announcement of finalists (via email and social media channels) 

14 April 2025 (by 23.59 UK time)

Moot Welcome Reception

12 June 2025

Oral Round 

13-14 June 2025

Registration 

Registration is now open.

Problem Question & Rules – 2025

Read the rules for 2025. 

Read the 2025 problem question.  

2024 Results

Read the 2024 Final Report. 

The Oral Round was held in-person on 13 and 14 June 2024.

Winning Team 

The University of Hong Kong

(King Hei Chan, Zee Faith Lee, Ching Ho Wong, Connor Thomas Gregory) 

If you have any questions about the Herbert Smith Freehills Competition Law Moot, you can contact the organisers at HSFLCMoot@kcl.ac.uk, or follow the competition on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn for updates.