About the AATAAT Mooting Competition2008 Mooting Competition Dates, Competition Draw and Documents
About the Mooting CompetitionThe Administrative Appeals Tribunal Mooting Competition has been running since 2005. The 2008 competition will be truly national, involving up to 32 teams from universities around Australia. All law students enrolled in Australian universities are invited to register in the competition. Teams must involve two team members who act as Senior and Junior Counsel and may also involve a third team member who is a designated scribe and researcher. The AAT moots involve fact scenarios drawn from a variety of administrative law areas, such as immigration, freedom of information and employees’ compensation. The moots are run a little differently from other mooting competitions, reflecting the difference between proceedings in courts and tribunals. The moots are conducted like AAT hearings. The AAT is an independent body that reviews a broad range of administrative decisions made by the Commonwealth government ministers, departments and agencies. The Tribunal conducts merits review, which involves a complete reconsideration of the decision being reviewed. The Tribunal determines what it considers to be the correct decision or, in a matter involving the exercise of discretion, the preferable decision, and substitutes that decision for the decision under review. The hearings are conducted de novo, so the facts are crucial. This is one of the key differences between the AAT moots and classical mooting. Rather than being confined to appeals on questions of law, AAT moots involve questions of law, fact and policy. Teams are specifically assessed on their ability as representatives in a merits review context. If you are unsure of how merits review operates in practice, it is advisable to attend a Tribunal hearing at your local registry. Tribunals are an increasingly important part of the Australian legal system. The AAT Mooting Competition is a wonderful opportunity to be exposed to merits review and the jurisdiction of the AAT. Conduct of the mootsThe AAT moots are necessarily abridged versions of Tribunal hearings. One week before the moot, teams will be provided with a fact scenario. For the purposes of the moot, teams can assume that evidence has already been given in relation to those facts. Two days before the moot, teams must submit brief written submissions and a list of authorities. The actual moot will last approximately 1.5-2 hours. Each team will present only closing submissions (30 mins per team) and submissions in reply (10 mins per team). Moots will be adjudicated by Tribunal members. Structure of the competitionThe competition consists of state competitions and national finals. The state competitions will involve either one or two rounds. The moots will be conducted in hearing rooms at the local registry of the state or territory. The Tribunal will be constituted by one Tribunal member. In some cases, if only one team enters from a particular region, the moot will be conducted by videoconference with another state or territory. Following the state competitions, eight teams will enter the national finals. These teams will not necessarily be representative of states and territories. Eight teams will compete in the quarter finals, four teams in the semi-finals and two teams in the grand final. For the national finals, the Tribunal will be constituted by either two or three Tribunal members. The grand final will be conducted in Sydney and will be adjudicated by a Tribunal consisting of the President of the Tribunal, the Honourable Justice Garry Downes AM. The Tribunal will provide a travel and accommodation allowance to the teams competing in the grand final. The winning team will be awarded a cash prize and a winner’s shield. Entry details
For more information about the AAT's jurisdiction and procedures generally, visit the main web page at www.aat.gov.au or email aatweb@aat.gov.au For any mooting competition queries please email moot@aat.gov.au.
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