Students from across the world have been testing their legal knowledge in a new international competition.

32 teams of law students took part in the event last week, organised by University of Staffordshire in partnership with REVA University in Bangalore, India.

Students were challenged to analyse a complex fictional legal case and present arguments for both sides – mirroring the procedures of real appellate court hearings. The competition tested participants’ skills in legal research, written submissions, advocacy and public speaking, helping to prepare them for careers in legal practice.

Dr Samantha Spence, Course Director for Postgraduate Law at University of Staffordshire, helped to organise the competition and made it all possible through her connection with REVA University in her capacity as Visiting Professor.

Honestly, I didn't expect to do anything like this in my first year, but I'm glad that we have had this opportunity so early on (...) having this experience really helps to prepare us for the future and it’ll look fantastic on the CV.

She said: “At the University of Staffordshire, we take pride in offering a legal education that is rooted in real-world learning and guided by a strong commitment to social justice. Partnering with REVA, whose innovative and practice-focused approach has earned them a reputation as one of India’s leading universities, allows us to create a shared platform for students to engage critically with international law.

“Mooting is a vital experience for law students. It develops advocacy, research, and analytical skills, but also builds confidence in articulating complex arguments under pressure.

“This competition provided an opportunity not just to compete, but to collaborate across borders, learn from diverse perspectives, and grow as future lawyers who are globally minded and socially conscious.”

University of Staffordshire students were supported in preparing for the competition by lecturers, Dr Jobair Alam, Aidan Flynn, and Donna Graham, who provided guidance on legal argumentation, research approaches and courtroom etiquette. Students also benefited from accredited training on industry-standard legal databases used widely by law firms.

First year LLB (Hons) Law students Peter Heath and Jessica Sample both represented University of Staffordshire.

Mature student Peter, 57, from Longsdon, was inspired to return to education after his son began studying at University of Staffordshire.

He said: “What's interesting about this competition is we had to present the case for the appellant and also the opposing side, which is the respondent, so we had to prepare a brief and be prepared to advocate on both sides to test our reasoning skills, irrespective of what we personally believe.

“It's quite incredible, really, for someone like me. I've just come into this law degree as a new student I never expected to be competing in something of this nature with people from around the world so early in my studies. It has been a great experience and we have learned a lot from it.”

Jessica, 23, from Congleton, added: “Honestly, I didn't expect to do anything like this in my first year, but I'm glad that we have had this opportunity so early on. I want to feel comfortable in a courtroom in three years’ time when I graduate and I start looking at pupillage on my way to becoming a barrister. So, having this experience really helps to prepare us for the future and it’ll look fantastic on the CV.”

After facing tough competition, Peter and Jessica were delighted to get through to the quarter finals. The overall winners were from the School of Excellence in Law, and the runners-up were from Jindal Global Law School.

Donna Graham, Lecturer in Law, added: “This is an amazing achievement for Peter and Jessica as students in their first year of study. Particularly so when the jurisdiction for the moot was a fictional country based on the laws of India. The feedback regarding Peter was notable where it was said that he had ‘won their hearts’.

“The skills the students have learned during their journey will prepare them well for the opportunities and challenges ahead.”

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