LEXISNEXIS MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION 2014

RULES

  1. WHO MAY PARTICIPATE

Only students currently registered for an LLB degree (1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th year students) with the Faculty of Law or School of participating universities are eligible to compete. Any person previously or currently employed professionally as an attorney, advocate or public prosecutor may not compete. Each team must be accompanied by a staff member. No team will be reimbursed for any costs associated with their attendance or non-attendance of the competition save as previously undertaken by the hosting university.

  1. THE TRIALS

Each team will compete in four preliminary rounds of mock trials. The four highest-scoring teams will compete in a knock-out semi-final. The two winning teams will then compete in a final trial to be held on the afternoon of the last day of the competition. All six trials will be based on Criminal Law. The draw of the teams is final and no correspondence will be entered into in this regard.

In advance of the competition the teams will all receive a copy of the standard assessment form to be used by the judges to assess the performance of the participants.

  • Fact sheets and witness statements will be handed out prior to the

trials.

  • The “State” must provide the Defence with the charge sheet within 30 minutes after they received their case study.

Please see “Explanatory Memorandum” available on the website for a detailed explanation of the format the competition will follow.

3. CONVENTIONS

Each side will have one witness to call. No communication will be permitted with opposition witnesses prior to or during the mock trial concerned.

Participants are confined to the facts given in the fact sheet and witness statements, and may not alter the information given. This does not preclude reasonable interpretation of the given facts.

4. TIME ALLOCATION

The general time allocation for each trial is indicated in the timetable. These time limits will be strictly enforced and monitored with time clocks. When the time-out signal is given the relevant participants will be instructed to conclude, and must do so accordingly.

The tasks per trial must be as equally divided as reasonably possible among the team members. Unequal task allocation will be penalised by the judges.

5. JUDGING AND MARKING

Each trial will only have one presiding officer who will assess the teams.

A full judgement will not be given by the court, but the presiding officer will give brief feedback on the performances of the team members, based on both content and presentation. In advance of the competition the teams will all receive a copy of the standard assessment form to be used by the judges to assess the performance of the participants. No additional marks will be allocated for a successful outcome to the trial. The verdict given at the conclusion of the trial will accordingly have no influence in determining the winning or losing team in any round. The coaches of the teams will be allowed to sit in during the trials to enable them to identify shortcomings of the team and to enable them to train the students for the next rounds.

6. PROCEEDINGS

The procedure will be similar to a criminal trial in the magistrates court, subject to reasonable adaptations being made due to the limitations of the competition. Please note that the coaches of the teams are not allowed to communicate with the teams once the teams have received their case studies.

7. EXPLANATION OF ROUNDS

All six rounds will be in the form of a criminal trial. Please see “Explanatory Memorandum” available on the website for a detailed explanation of the format the competition will take.

8. ISSUES NOT COVERED IN THESE RULES

Any issue that arises for decision not covered in these rules will be decided by the mock trial moderator, where necessary in consultation with representatives of the affected parties. The decision of the moderator shall be final. All procedures, guidelines and rules contained in other documentation provided by the organisers will be regarded as forming part of, but must be read subject to, these rules. Failure to adhere to any of these rules may result in disqualification of the entire team concerned. No refunds will be given in the event of disqualification.

9. PANEL FOR ADMINISTRATION AND CALCULATION OF RESULTS

There will be a panel for the calculation of results and other administrative purposes. The panel will consist of five members, two members from the hosting university and three members chosen by draw from participating universities. Universities interested in serving on the calculation panel must please indicate the name of their nominee on the registration form.