Administrative Appeals Tribunal 2011 National Mooting Competition
The 7th annual Administrative Appeals Tribunal National Mooting Competition took place between 1 June and 7 October 2011. This competition allows students from a variety of universities the chance to demonstrate their advocacy and research skills and be adjudicated by Members of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. It provides a wonderful opportunity for students to expand their knowledge about Tribunal practice and procedure.
The moots, which were conducted over five rounds, involved fact scenarios drawn from a variety of administrative law areas including social security, workers' compensation, immigration and citizenship, veteran's affairs and civil aviation. Each fact scenario was drafted by Tribunal staff and was at the highest standard.
This year's Grand Finalists were from the University of Sydney and the University of Queensland. The Tribunal, constituted by the President, the Honourable Justice Garry Downes, Senior Member Egon Fice and Senior Member Anne Britton, declared the University of Queensland the winning team. The members of the winning team were Abraham O'Neill, Mitchell Beebe and Hannah McConnachie. The team was presented with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal National Mooting Competition Shield by Justice Garry Downes. They were also presented with a $200 gift voucher from the Tribunal.
The members of the runner up team were Nicholas Olson and Reuben Ray. They were presented with a $100 gift voucher from the Tribunal.
Each participant in the Grand Final was also awarded with a leather bound binder from the Law Council of Australia and Gift Voucher Award from Lexis Nexis. On behalf of the 2011 Moot Committee, I would like to thank the Law Council of Australia and Lexis Nexis for their ongoing support and sponsorship of the competition.
The Best Oralist Prize, donated by the Law Council of Australia, was presented to Reuben Ray, of the University of Sydney, by the Registrar of the Tribunal, Philip Kellow. This prize included a gift voucher and engraved coffee set.
As with previous years, the success of the competition hinges on the contributions of many people. On behalf of the 2011 Moot Committee, I would like to thank the Tribunal Members who volunteered their time to adjudicate moots. Their engagement with the process and willingness to provide feedback to participants was invaluable. I would like to thank the Associates who acted as Hearing Attendants throughout the competition and the staff who created the fact scenarios used by the participants. I would also like to thank all of this year's participants. It was incredibly heartening to see so many bright and articulate law students take a keen interest in the competition. Finally, I would like to thank the 2011 Moot Committee. It is only with their support and enthusiasm that the 2011 Mooting Competition was a resounding success.
Michelle Corcoran
National Moot Coordinator 2011
Photo: The winning team from the University of Queensland with the Tribunal
From left, Mitchell Beebe; Senior Member Egon Fice; the President, the Honourable Justice Garry Downes; Senior Member Anne Britton; Hannah McConnachie; Abraham O'Neill.
Photo: Senior Member Egon Fice congratulating Mitchell Beebe, a member of the winning University of Queensland team.
Photo: The Grand Finalists with the Tribunal
From left, Nicholas Olson (University of Sydney); Reuben Ray (University of Sydney); Senior Member Egon Fice; the President, the Honourable Justice Garry Downes; Senior Member Anne Britton; Hannah McConnachie (University of Queensland); Mitchell Beebe (University of Queensland); Abraham O'Neill (University of Queensland).
Photo: A moot between states (Queensland and New South Wales) using video conferencing.
