The 1st international digital advocacy/moot competition
What makes iMAC a high quality competition and training?
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iMAC:
1. ensures fairness for all the teams (not just the pairs, as it usually the case).
- All advocacy submissions / moots will be judged following quantifiable criteria – same as university marking, or admission to the Bar in jurisdictions such as the USA. This will maximise fairness, including eliminating the risks of strong teams eliminating strong teams at first round.
- There will be double marking, which will eliminate the risk of different standards applied by judges. If marks do not match, a calibration procedure will be followed, and the submissions/advocacy will be marked again.
2. All teams have the same case(s) – minimising any advantages or disadvantages associated with the difficulty of the case.
3. All teams will argue both sides of the case. This procedure is selected to equip advocates with the ability of assessing cases from both side. Considering the other sides’ case is important 1) to increase chances of understanding the case, thus winning; and 2) to learn to be aware of ethical violations – arguing the case from both sides, will make advocates more aware of the harmful tactics that lawyer often use, and which should be eliminated.
4. It is open to all people at pre-qualifying stage anywhere in the world.
5. It is open to any discipline. This to acknowledge the market realities that more and more non-lawyer advocates represent members of the public.
6. It is the 1st international digital moot.
7. It prepares future lawyers for the new era we live in – the digital era.
8. It prepares future lawyers towards a fairer process in court.
iMAC Digital discourages a theatrical approach, and encourages a justice-focused approach. It promotes advocacy with minimised persuasion techniques, and with a focus on assisting the court to make the just decision (facts, law and application). Expressions such as ‘My Lord’ and ‘if it pleases your Lordship(s)’ are not required.
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There is an opportunity for your oral submissions to be posted on UKLSA’s online resources.
The FINAL: A celebratory event for the competition will be held in London in June (date to be decided), where all participants and their guests will be invited. At the event, the top 10 places; top 4 places, top 2 places and the 1st place (the winner of the UKSLA iMAC Cup) will be announced. No other places will be announced.
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Judging criteria
iMAC Digital is designed to ensure fairness for all the teams (not only for each pair, as it usually the case). There is no risk of a strong team being eliminated by another strong team – maximising fairness.
- All teams are measured against all other teams, and not against one team only (as is usually the case with moot competitions).
- All advocacy submissions / moots will be judged by quantifiable criteria – same as university marking, or admission to the Bar in jurisdictions such as the USA.
- There will be double marking, to eliminate the risk of different standards applied by judges. If marks do not match, a calibration procedure will be followed, and the submission/advocacy will be marked again.
Preparing for advocacy
The competition is strong and so we recommend that you practice as much as you can before making your submissions. Should you wish to take advocacy training beforehand, there are a number of short course available you can choose from.
Other potential benefits for Advocates / Mooters
