Ivanhoe Teams Shine at National Mooting Finals
Two Ivanhoe Grammar School teams achieved an outstanding result in the Bond University National High School Mooting Competition, with both qualifying for the national finals on the Gold Coast. The annual competition attracts schools from across Australia and provides students with the opportunity to develop their advocacy, legal reasoning and public speaking skills in a realistic courtroom setting. This year, 62 schools competed in the preliminary rounds, with only 12 teams progressing to the finals.
Teams from both Ridgeway and Plenty campuses qualified among the nation’s best. Together, the teams made up two of the six Appellant teams selected for the final rounds. The Plenty Campus team, comprising Year 12 students Agastya and Kevan, travelled to Bond University on 12 and 13 June to compete in the semi-final rounds. They were joined in qualifying by the Ridgeway Campus team of Alex, Hugo and Suvin (Year 11).
Hosted at Bond University’s Law Faculty, the finals provided students with the opportunity to compete in authentic Moot Courts, engage with current law students and experience university life firsthand. Students also toured the campus and observed a mock trial presented by graduating law students, offering valuable insight into the legal profession and the study of law at tertiary level.
‘Mooting is a mock court competition where students argue legal cases before judges, developing skills in critical thinking and public speaking. In the Bond University High School Mooting Competition, we prepared legal submissions, analysed case law, and responded to judges’ questions under pressure. Through the experience, I learned how to construct persuasive arguments, think quickly, and work effectively as a team. I especially enjoyed the intensity of courtroom advocacy and the challenge of defending our case as well as working alongside Gus, my senior counsel. Our efforts have led to us being invited to compete in Queensland, which we are very much excited for!’ – Kevan, Year 12.
‘Mooting taught me to slow down and pay attention to details I would have otherwise missed. The small things genuinely matter when you are standing in front of real judges who will pick apart every part of your argument. That experience of being challenged on the spot, having to think clearly and respond with confidence, is something you simply cannot replicate in a classroom. It pushed me to be sharper, more considered, and more thorough in how I approach a problem. Kevan and I worked well together throughout the whole process and his perspective consistently brought something to our case that I had not thought of myself, which made our preparation and our arguments stronger overall. We are both very much looking forward to taking this to the Gold Coast and seeing what we can do with the full experience ahead of us.’ – Agastya, Year 12.
Congratulations to all students involved in this outstanding achievement and for representing Ivanhoe Grammar School with distinction on the national stage.
