London Universities Mooting Shield
Encyclopedia
The London Universities Mooting Shield, mostly known as LUMS, is an annual mooting league competition featuring teams of undergraduate students from University Law Faculties
across London. The competition is run 'by students, for students' , and a strong emphasis is placed on personal development and networking, making LUMS noticeably different from other mooting competitions
. As a domestic mooting competition
, LUMS is concerned only with the Law of England and Wales, with moot problems being derived from the core topics studied by students on every LLB programme in that jurisdiction.
The competition is currently sponsored by law firm
Allen & Overy
, barristers’ chambers
3 Verulam Buildings and 5 Stone Buildings
, and Kaplan Law School
(which, as a BPTC
, LPC
and GDL
provider, cannot enter a team itself). The LUMS Grand Final, between the two teams that come top of the competition league, is held in March each year at Allen & Overy
's City offices, with a representative from each of the sponsors sitting on the judging panel.
(UCL
), Daniel Jackson
(SOAS
), Richard Padley (LSE
) and Krishan Thakker (King's College London), each of whom continue to be actively involved with the competition. Each year, five competitors from the previous year are invited to form the LUMS Executive Committee which runs the day to day operations of the competition. This ensures the student focus and the link to participating institutions.
Ten London Universities currently take part in the competition namely; University College London
, King’s College London, London School of Economics
, School of Oriental and African Studies
, University of Westminster
, London South Bank University
, Queen Mary
, Birkbeck College, City University London and University of Hertfordshire
, which is located just outside of London.
In 2010-11 the competition underwent significant expansion with the addition of two more universities to the league, rounds at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
(before Justices of the Supreme Court
), the Royal Courts of Justice
and an advocacy training weekend at Caer Rhun Hall in North Wales, part of Kaplan
.
, and is intended to maximise the educational benefit of the competition - both in terms of advocacy and career development. Rounds are hosted by the participating universities, certain of the competition sponsors and legal venues such as the Royal Courts of Justice
and the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
. The multiple moots which make up each round are always held on the same evening in the same place, enabling the competitors to get to know each other throughout the year and furthermore to find out more about the legal profession by meeting the Barristers who judged them in an informal context. At the end of the league rounds, the top two teams based on points go on to the Grand Final, meaning that the team coming top of the league does not always win the overall competition.
Each team consists of up to four undergraduate participants, of whom two act as counsel
at each round. Team members therefore alternate between each round in order to evenly distribute their workload and promote teamwork. Team members are undergraduate students in order to prevent the competition being dominated by more experienced BPTC
, LPC
or GDL
students, who might already have a training contract
or pupillage
, as is the case with some other mooting competitions
.
At the Grand Final, the winning team receives the Shield, which lends its name to the competition, with additional prizes offered to the individual winners varying each year. These have previously included mini-pupillages
at some of the prestigious sponsoring chambers
, making participation in the competition highly attractive to law students who are intending to become barrister
s. Prizes are also presented to the participant who has shown the best standard of advocacy
throughout the competition’s league rounds, and to the team who has embraced the spirit of the competition. A further prize is awarded to a participant who has shown outstanding effort and teamwork.
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
across London. The competition is run 'by students, for students' , and a strong emphasis is placed on personal development and networking, making LUMS noticeably different from other mooting competitions
Moot court
A moot court is an extracurricular activity at many law schools in which participants take part in simulated court proceedings, usually to include drafting briefs and participating in oral argument. The term derives from Anglo Saxon times, when a moot was a gathering of prominent men in a...
. As a domestic mooting competition
Moot court
A moot court is an extracurricular activity at many law schools in which participants take part in simulated court proceedings, usually to include drafting briefs and participating in oral argument. The term derives from Anglo Saxon times, when a moot was a gathering of prominent men in a...
, LUMS is concerned only with the Law of England and Wales, with moot problems being derived from the core topics studied by students on every LLB programme in that jurisdiction.
The competition is currently sponsored by law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
Allen & Overy
Allen & Overy
Allen & Overy is a global law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom.A member of the UK's Magic Circle of leading law firms, Allen & Overy is widely considered to be one of the world's elite law firms, advising national and multinational corporations, financial institutions, and...
, barristers’ chambers
Chambers (law)
A judge's chambers, often just called his or her chambers, is the office of a judge.Chambers may also refer to the type of courtroom where motions related to matter of procedure are heard.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :...
3 Verulam Buildings and 5 Stone Buildings
5 Stone Buildings
5 Stone Buildings is a barristers’ set situated at Lincoln's Inn, London. It currently comprises 24 members, of whom five are Queen's Counsel, whose specialisations include private client, estate planning, tax, probate disputes, partnership, property litigation, professional negligence, pensions...
, and Kaplan Law School
Kaplan Law School
Kaplan Law School is a for-profit educational institution offering post-graduate legal training in London for those wishing to become a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales.-History:...
(which, as a BPTC
Bar Professional Training Course
The Bar Professional Training Course is a graduate course that is completed by those wishing to be called to the Bar, i.e. to practise as a barrister in England and Wales...
, LPC
Legal Practice Course
The Legal Practice Course also known as the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practiceis the vocational stage for becoming a solicitor in England and Wales. The course is the successor to Law Society Finals and is more vocational in its syllabus. The LPC can be taken in many different formats including...
and GDL
Common Professional Examination
The Common Professional Examination is a postgraduate law course in England and Wales that is taken by non-law graduates wishing to become either a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales...
provider, cannot enter a team itself). The LUMS Grand Final, between the two teams that come top of the competition league, is held in March each year at Allen & Overy
Allen & Overy
Allen & Overy is a global law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom.A member of the UK's Magic Circle of leading law firms, Allen & Overy is widely considered to be one of the world's elite law firms, advising national and multinational corporations, financial institutions, and...
's City offices, with a representative from each of the sponsors sitting on the judging panel.
History
LUMS was founded by the student Masters of Moots from the four original participating universities; John HarrisonJohn Harrison (disambiguation)
John Harrison may refer to:*John Harrison , 17th century*John Harrison , clockmaker who designed and built the world's first successful marine chronometers...
(UCL
University College London Law Faculty
The UCL Faculty of Laws is one of the 10 constituent faculties of University College London . It is one of the world’s premier law schools, renowned for the quality of its teaching and its cutting-edge legal research...
), Daniel Jackson
Daniel Jackson
Daniel Jackson, Ph.D., is a fictional character in the Canadian-American military science fiction television series Stargate SG-1, which is about a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien transportation devices. Daniel Jackson is first introduced in the 1994 film Stargate, and is...
(SOAS
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
), Richard Padley (LSE
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
) and Krishan Thakker (King's College London), each of whom continue to be actively involved with the competition. Each year, five competitors from the previous year are invited to form the LUMS Executive Committee which runs the day to day operations of the competition. This ensures the student focus and the link to participating institutions.
Ten London Universities currently take part in the competition namely; University College London
University College London Law Faculty
The UCL Faculty of Laws is one of the 10 constituent faculties of University College London . It is one of the world’s premier law schools, renowned for the quality of its teaching and its cutting-edge legal research...
, King’s College London, London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, School of Oriental and African Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
, University of Westminster
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
, London South Bank University
London South Bank University
London South Bank University is a university in south London. With over 25,000 students and 1,700 staff, it is based in the London Borough of Southwark, near the South Bank of the River Thames, from which it takes its name...
, Queen Mary
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, Birkbeck College, City University London and University of Hertfordshire
University of Hertfordshire
The University of Hertfordshire is a new university based largely in Hatfield, in the county of Hertfordshire, England, from which the university takes its name. It has more than 27,500 students, over 2500 staff, with a turnover of over £181m...
, which is located just outside of London.
In 2010-11 the competition underwent significant expansion with the addition of two more universities to the league, rounds at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the supreme court in all matters under English law, Northern Ireland law and Scottish civil law. It is the court of last resort and highest appellate court in the United Kingdom; however the High Court of Justiciary remains the supreme court for criminal...
(before Justices of the Supreme Court
Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
Justices of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom are the judges of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom other than the President and Deputy President. The Supreme Court is the highest in the United Kingdom for civil matters, and for criminal matters from England and Wales and Northern Ireland...
), the Royal Courts of Justice
Royal Courts of Justice
The Royal Courts of Justice, commonly called the Law Courts, is the building in London which houses the Court of Appeal of England and Wales and the High Court of Justice of England and Wales...
and an advocacy training weekend at Caer Rhun Hall in North Wales, part of Kaplan
Kaplan Law School
Kaplan Law School is a for-profit educational institution offering post-graduate legal training in London for those wishing to become a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales.-History:...
.
Competition Format and Prizes
LUMS is based on a league format, which ensures that each team competes against every other at least once. The fact that no teams are knocked out until the Grand Final differentiates it from other mooting competitionsMoot court
A moot court is an extracurricular activity at many law schools in which participants take part in simulated court proceedings, usually to include drafting briefs and participating in oral argument. The term derives from Anglo Saxon times, when a moot was a gathering of prominent men in a...
, and is intended to maximise the educational benefit of the competition - both in terms of advocacy and career development. Rounds are hosted by the participating universities, certain of the competition sponsors and legal venues such as the Royal Courts of Justice
Royal Courts of Justice
The Royal Courts of Justice, commonly called the Law Courts, is the building in London which houses the Court of Appeal of England and Wales and the High Court of Justice of England and Wales...
and the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the supreme court in all matters under English law, Northern Ireland law and Scottish civil law. It is the court of last resort and highest appellate court in the United Kingdom; however the High Court of Justiciary remains the supreme court for criminal...
. The multiple moots which make up each round are always held on the same evening in the same place, enabling the competitors to get to know each other throughout the year and furthermore to find out more about the legal profession by meeting the Barristers who judged them in an informal context. At the end of the league rounds, the top two teams based on points go on to the Grand Final, meaning that the team coming top of the league does not always win the overall competition.
Each team consists of up to four undergraduate participants, of whom two act as counsel
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
at each round. Team members therefore alternate between each round in order to evenly distribute their workload and promote teamwork. Team members are undergraduate students in order to prevent the competition being dominated by more experienced BPTC
Bar Professional Training Course
The Bar Professional Training Course is a graduate course that is completed by those wishing to be called to the Bar, i.e. to practise as a barrister in England and Wales...
, LPC
Legal Practice Course
The Legal Practice Course also known as the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practiceis the vocational stage for becoming a solicitor in England and Wales. The course is the successor to Law Society Finals and is more vocational in its syllabus. The LPC can be taken in many different formats including...
or GDL
Common Professional Examination
The Common Professional Examination is a postgraduate law course in England and Wales that is taken by non-law graduates wishing to become either a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales...
students, who might already have a training contract
Training contract
A training contract is a compulsory period of practical training in a law firm for law graduates before they can qualify as a solicitor in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Australia or Hong Kong...
or pupillage
Pupillage
A pupillage, in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland, is the barrister's equivalent of the training contract that a solicitor undertakes...
, as is the case with some other mooting competitions
Moot court
A moot court is an extracurricular activity at many law schools in which participants take part in simulated court proceedings, usually to include drafting briefs and participating in oral argument. The term derives from Anglo Saxon times, when a moot was a gathering of prominent men in a...
.
At the Grand Final, the winning team receives the Shield, which lends its name to the competition, with additional prizes offered to the individual winners varying each year. These have previously included mini-pupillages
Pupillage
A pupillage, in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland, is the barrister's equivalent of the training contract that a solicitor undertakes...
at some of the prestigious sponsoring chambers
Chambers (law)
A judge's chambers, often just called his or her chambers, is the office of a judge.Chambers may also refer to the type of courtroom where motions related to matter of procedure are heard.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :...
, making participation in the competition highly attractive to law students who are intending to become barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
s. Prizes are also presented to the participant who has shown the best standard of advocacy
Advocacy
Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
throughout the competition’s league rounds, and to the team who has embraced the spirit of the competition. A further prize is awarded to a participant who has shown outstanding effort and teamwork.
Past winners
| Year | Winning University | Winning Team Members | Runner-Up University | Best Advocate Award | Spirit of the Shield Award | Master/Mistress of the Shield Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | London School of Economics London School of Economics The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London... |
Ahmed Alani, Ingram Cheung, Lee Shi Min, Ting Yik Boh | Queen Mary Queen Mary, University of London Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London... |
Emma Walker | University of Hertfordshire University of Hertfordshire The University of Hertfordshire is a new university based largely in Hatfield, in the county of Hertfordshire, England, from which the university takes its name. It has more than 27,500 students, over 2500 staff, with a turnover of over £181m... |
Laura Thompson Laura Thompson Laura Thompson is a Canadian musician and music columnist for CBC Newsworld's daily arts wrap, CBC News: The Scene.Thompson is also a producer on The Scene and a member of Toronto-based pop band The Good Soldiers.-External links:*... |
| 2009-10 | University College London University College London Law Faculty The UCL Faculty of Laws is one of the 10 constituent faculties of University College London . It is one of the world’s premier law schools, renowned for the quality of its teaching and its cutting-edge legal research... |
Simon Tysoe, Elizabeth Day, Aathmika Kularatnam, Jason Shardlow-Wrest | Birkbeck College | Aathmika Kularatnam | University of Westminster University of Westminster The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent... |
Lucy McKinley |
| 2008-9 | University College London University College London Law Faculty The UCL Faculty of Laws is one of the 10 constituent faculties of University College London . It is one of the world’s premier law schools, renowned for the quality of its teaching and its cutting-edge legal research... |
James Chandler, Daniel Law, Chiraag Patel, Lisa Quelch | London School of Economics London School of Economics The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London... |
Azan Marwah | University of Greenwich University of Greenwich The University of Greenwich is a British university located in the London Borough of Greenwich, London, England. The main campus is located on the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, a central location within the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site.-History:The history of the... |
Conor McCabe |
| 2007-8 | University College London University College London Law Faculty The UCL Faculty of Laws is one of the 10 constituent faculties of University College London . It is one of the world’s premier law schools, renowned for the quality of its teaching and its cutting-edge legal research... |
Matthew Abraham, Ronnie Dennis, Marco de Sousa | King's College London King's College London King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and... |
David Prowse |