Belling The Cat- What to do in your first moot court.

The reason I am writing this is cause when I went for my first moot court I had no definite idea of what to expect.I hope this helps future first time mooters.

First what are the things you need-

1) Confidence- Have confidence in yourself, in your team mate and most importantly in your research.A good memorial is worth more then half of the work.

2) Language- This is a courtroom we are talking about, not a party. No matter what happens, BE        HUMBLE AND SMILE. Your smile will give you confidence.Learn the proper terms.
     Always address the judges as-
                                                   The Bench,This Hon'ble Court, The Hon'ble Court, Your Lordships, The Hon'ble Bench.

   Always be polite. It helps. Start with- "If it pleases the Hon'ble Court, I am.."
After finishing ever issue ask the court if you can proceed to the next issue.
LOOK AT THE BENCH. DONT READ.   This will show your confidence in yourself and boost your case.
Do not lecture the bench.Remember this is not like a simple presentation. All your points must be interlinked allowing a easy flow of thought.Lead the bench through your point of view.

3)Its NOT wrong not to know- No one's perfect. If you dont know something, accept it. Do NOT bluff.
 
4) The Bench will be harsh- The bench is supposed to be harsh.It wouldnt be so highly valued if it was easy.They will try their level best to break you. DO NOT BREAK UNDER PRESSURE. If things are not going well, take a deep breath pause and then continue. No need to hurry.

5) Read..As much as you can- It is true. Once your standing infront of the bench the only thing that can help you is your ability to think on your feet.Reading a lot will help you in this.Read beyond the topic also. Link up stuff. Moot is not a test of memory. Its a test of skill and knowledge. Your PRACTICAL thinking is tested. Think out of the box. You will be appreciated for that.

6)PRACTICE- Trust me when i say no amount of practice is enough.Practice till your ready to drop dead.


A MOOT COURT IS NOT A MATTER OF JOKE. REPRESENTING YOUR COLLEGE AS A MATTER OF GREAT HONOR. REMEMBER THAT. IF YOU CANNOT TAKE PRESSURE THEN THIS IS NOT FOR YOU.KEEP IT SIMPLE.LEARN THE PROPER MANNERS TO ADDRESS.THE FIRST FEW ROUNDS ARE ALWAYS THE TOUGHEST BUT THE PRIZE IS WORTH THE WORK. ALL THE BEST.Hope it helps.:)

Posted in: YOUR VOICE