(L): Heather Cave and Dylan Gibbs with the Brimacombe trophy.
(R): Five of the seven mooters awarded Honourable Mentions by the judges (Top Row - L to R: Daniel Nunez, Erin O'Neill, Ashton Menuz and first runner-up Dylan Gibbs; Bottom Row: Brendan Downey & Shayla Hardy).
Heather Cave (2L) and Dylan Gibbs (2L) are the latest UAlberta Law students to have their names engraved on the Brimacombe Selection Round moot trophy, following their impressive performances in the annual competition to determine the 2016-17 moot teams.
This year's selection round - which saw the highest number of students in five years apply to be considered for a spot on the moot teams - was incredibly competitive. Heather Cave earned the highest score in the competition, with Dylan Gibbs the first runner-up. The judges also gave honourable mentions to Brendan Downey (3L), Shayla Hardy (2L), Ashton Menuz (3L), Danielle Mousseau (2L), Daniel Nunez (2L), Erin O'Neill (2L), and Matthew Summers (3L).
"Congratulations to Heather and Dylan on their tremendous performance during the Brimacombe Selection Round and to all of the students who earned honourable mentions," said Dean Paul Paton. "Mooting is a source of immense pride for our law school - witness the excitement that surrounded last year's victories - and you'll understand our anticipation for the 2016-17 season! The revitalization of the moot program over the last two years is nothing short of phenomenal, and is the direct consequence of the commitment of students, staff, faculty, coaches, and so many external supporters from the legal community who dedicate time, energy, effort and funds to ensuring that the moot program is successful."
The Brimacombe Selection Round, which ran on September 30 and October 3, consisted of more than 10 hours of oral arguments and included two students who participated via Skype. This year's case asked whether frozen embryos should be permitted to be used after a couple has separated and when one spouse does not give consent. Students had six minutes to state their case in front of a panel of three judges: Professor David Percy, Professor Bruce Ziff, and Professor Stella Varvis, Director, Legal Research and Writing Program and Coordinator, Competitive Moot Program.
The judges scored the participants' oral presentation on correct and articulate analysis of the issue, familiarity with the authorities, ability to defend propositions under questioning, poise, and clarity. The students selected for moot teams were placed based on their skills, interests, and preferences. Students who were not placed on a moot team are still eligible to apply for additional opportunities, including the Kawaskimhon National Aboriginal Moot (now open for applications) and the Client Consultation Competition.
"With the 2016-17 UAlberta Law moot teams now selected, students and their coaches can begin to prepare for their competitions," said Prof. Varvis. "In addition, we're also excited that the University of Alberta Faculty of Law will be hosting two high-profile moot competitions this winter: the McIntyre Cup and the Canadian qualifying round for the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. The McIntyre Cup is a regional criminal trial moot competition that is held annually between the seven law schools in western Canada in early February, of which the two top teams from the competition advance to the Sopinka Cup, the national competition, held annually in Ottawa in March. We are eager to defend our Sopinka Cup title in 2017, and that defence begins at the McIntyre Cup here at home."
The Canadian qualifying round of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition will take place at the Law Centre in March 2017. More information on both competitions will be made available on our website later this year.
The Faculty of Law would like to thank Professors Percy, Varvis, and Ziff, and all of the students and coaches for their participation in the Brimacombe Selection Round. Thanks also go to our enthusiastic team of 1Ls who served as court clerks: Katherine Creelman, Benjamin Effa, Chad Graham, Steven Climenhaga, Ryan Moore, Kimberly Gosel, Claire Lee, Naik Arbabzada, Leah Strand, and Kevin Horal.