The English-Speaking Union Moot, also known as, by virtue of a sponsorship arrangement with Essex Court Chambers, the ESU-Essex Court Chambers National Mooting Competition, or simply the ESU Moot, is the longest-running national mooting competition in the UK, involving teams of law students from universities across the country. The first grand final was held in 1972. The competition is run by Oxford Brookes University under the chairmanship of Dr Eric Baskind, a visiting research fellow at the university. The president of the competition is The Right Hon. Lady Arden of Heswall DBE, Justice of the UK Supreme Court.
History
In addition to being the oldest mooting competition, the ESU moot is also the largest of its kind, accepting entries from universities across the legal jurisdictions of the UK. Originally, the ESU moot was known as the Observer Moot, and has been known by its current name since 2000. Legal Week currently acts as the competition's media partner.
Format
The competition takes a knockout format, with 6 rounds, the last two of which take place on the same day. While the number of rounds require 64 participants, there is facility for more competitors than this, with special arrangements made to have pre-competition rounds to whittle the competitors down to 64.
Each round must be completed by a particular preset deadline, with one team being designated the host, and is thus responsible for securing a judge and organising facilities for the moot. All finalists and semi-finalists are presented with monetary prizes. In addition, the winners are awarded the Silver Mace, and the runner's up the Scarman Shield.
Previous winners
Year Winner2024University of Greenwich 2023 University of Southampton 2022 Oxford Brookes University2021King's College London 2020 Queen Mary University of London 2019 Oxford Brookes University 2018 University of Salford 2017 Newcastle University 2016 Oxford Brookes University 2015 Oxford Brookes University 2014 Liverpool John Moores University 2013 University College London 2012 Oxford Brookes University 2011 University of Glasgow 2010 University of Oxford 2009 University of Manchester 2008 University of Hertfordshire 2007 Liverpool John Moores University 2006 Queen Mary, University of London 2005 City University, London 2004 University of Bristol 2003 University of Liverpool 2002 University of Southampton 2001 Middlesex University 2000 Kingston University 1999 University of Greenwich 1998 University of Aberdeen 1997 University of Cambridge 1996 University of Bristol 1995 University of Leicester 1994 University of Edinburgh 1993 King's College London 1992 University of Birmingham 1991 University of East Anglia 1990 Nottingham Trent Polytechnic 1989 King's College London 1988 University of East Anglia 1987 Essex Institute of Higher Education 1986 Polytechnic of Central London 1985 University of Lancaster 1984 University of Bristol 1983 University of Hull 1982 Polytechnic of Central London 1981 Queen Mary College 1980 Queen Mary College 1979 School of Oriental and African Studies 1978 Queen Mary College 1977 University of Leicester 1976 University of Leicester 1975 Mid Essex Technical College 1974 University of Leicester 1973 University of Leicester 1972 University College London
External links ESU-Essex Court National Mooting Competition Website
References