Collas Crill Moot once again brings courtroom to life for students

Students are once being invited to take part in this year’s Collas Crill Moot.

The Moot provides students from Cayman Prep High School, Cayman International School (CIS), Clifton Hunter, St Ignatius Catholic School and - for the first time this year - John Gray High School with the chance to participate in a mock trial competition.

The Collas Crill team has been visiting the high schools this week to launch the 2024 competition. It is the third year the scheme has run in Cayman.

Last year around 40 student in Cayman took part in the competition.

The Moot involves students studying real-life legal case notes on a number of scenarios including criminal, employment and defamation trials, and applying them to a mock court situation.

Participants are mentored and coached by Collas Crill lawyers throughout the four-round competition and judged by some of the firm’s partners during the mock trials.

For aspiring lawyers the Moot teaches the basics of certain aspects of law and provides a fantastic opportunity to experience the drama of the courtroom first hand. For those not looking to pursue a legal career, the Moot provides the chance to improve on their communication, presentation, research and analytical skills.

The students must present their arguments in front of a Judge (played by some of Collas Crill’s attorneys) and are marked on their court etiquette, persuasiveness, clarity, body language, legal argument and time-keeping.

St Ignatius were the victors in last year’s Moot, which took place in the Cayman Islands Courthouse. Cayman Prep High School came second, Cayman International School took third and Clifton Hunter High School came fourth.

In 2023 Collas Crill partnered with the Constitutional Commission of the Cayman Islands for the final round of the competition, with Annikki Hill of the Constitutional Commission on the tribunal along with Collas Crill Partner Matt Dors and Managing Partner Stephen Leontsinis.

Stephen said: ‘As a firm we are so proud of how the Moot has grown year on year, and how it has been embraced by both the schools and wider community. Last year we welcomed St Ignatius and this year we are delighted to welcome John Gray High School to take part.

‘We are committed to developing and investing in the youth of the Cayman Islands and the Moot is very much a team effort. The attorneys and staff at Collas Crill in Cayman have formed a real partnership with the teachers and students and this shows when you see the Moot play out over the various rounds. I look forward to building on the success of the past two Moots and wish this year’s students the best of luck.’