Young law potentials from New Plymouth Boys’ High School argued their way to first place over the weekend as part of the annual Waikato National Secondary Schools’ Mooting Competition.
Hosted by Waikato University’s Te Piringa – Faculty of Law, the competition sees nearly 40 secondary schools from around the country participate in what is described as an intense challenge.
Starting in May every year, the competition involves a series of tasks including the development of legal arguments, principles of legal research and learning the litigation process. The event culminates with the finals night in July.
The finalists this year were New Plymouth Boys’ High School and Waikato Diocesan School for Girls who went head-to-head for the coveted winner’s trophy. Each member of the winning team also receives a $3000 scholarship towards tuition fees at Te Piringa – Faculty of Law, as well as two days’ work experience at Hamilton law firm McCaw Lewis Lawyers who also sponsor the competition.
New Plymouth Boys’ High School students James Macey and Kaya Selby were part of the winning team, with James also picking up the Best Overall Speaker Award.
Andrew Hong, Teaching Fellow at Te Piringa – Faculty of Law says the elite competition tests students’ law skills in a real-world situation.
“The topics these students cover are really advanced, and we’re not scared to give them something challenging.
“These young people are very capable and we know they’re able to tackle the problem head-on."
Te Piringa – Faculty of Law is the only tertiary law school in New Zealand that hosts this event. Hong says the competition receives a lot of support from local practitioners, many who are often former law students and competitors.
