Why Should I Become A Member?

UTPLS Members are offered many exclusive benefits! Click here for more information on the exclusive perks you will receive when you register as a UTPLS Member.

Starting September, you can register to become a member for the 2023-24 academic year. See our “Membership” tab for more information and access to the registration form!

How Do I Become A UTPLS Member?

I Want To Become More Involved With Pre-Law. How Do I Start?

The level of involvement you have with our association is completely up to you! We offer a variety of services to all members!

Pre-Law at UofT has five main portfolios you can become involved with:

  1. You can compete in both Mock Trial or Mooting Competitions;

  2. You can apply as an Intern/ Board Member for our Communications, Canadian Mock Trial, American Mock Trial, Finance, or Events Portfolios;

  3. You can submit entries to our Undergraduate Law Journal, Intra Vires, or apply to be an editor;

  4. You can attend our upcoming events; and/or

  5. You can become involved with our Mentorship program as either a mentee or mentor!

Click here for more information on becoming involved with the Executive team.

Do I Have To Be A Member To Attend UTPLS Events?

Access to ALL Events are included in the Membership Fee, paid one time. However, Events held at the beginning of the year, are generally welcome to all who are interested in UTPLS, and opportunities to register will be available at these events!

Do I Have To Become A Member To Compete In Mock/Moot Competitions?

Both the Mock Trial and Mooting programs hold try-outs at the beginning of the school year in order to form their yearly teams. In order to be a team member for either Mock Trial or Mooting, you must be a registered pre-law member. Team members receive priority when registering for Mock Trial and Mooting competitions. Mock Trial members are also exclusively able to compete in international competitions.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Ensuring a safe, and comfortable environment for all of our members is a top priority for us. If you have any questions or concerns that are equity related, please contact our Equity Manager; Sacha, at equitymanager.utpls@gmail.com. You can also find our anonymous form for equity-related submissions on our Equity Page.

I Have An Equity-Related Complaint/Concern.

Mock Trial & Moot Competitions

When/Where Are Competitions Held?

CAD: There are six main undergraduate competitions through the year. They all typically take place on the weekend, and last for two days: Capital Cup Moot @Carleton University in November, UofT Mock Trial Competition @University of Toronto in November; McGill Invitational Moot @McGill University in January; UofT Cup Moot @University of Toronto in February; McGill Mock Trial @Mcill University in February; and Osgoode Cup Moot @York University in March.

AMT: For our American Mock Trial Team, Invitationals, Regionals, and Championships are tentatively planned to be held in the Northeast Regions of USA (i.e Buffalo, New York).

How Much Are Competition Costs?

Competition fees vary each year, but each competition costs around $170-250 per team. While UTPLS handles competition fees for our members, competitors are required to handle food expenses themselves, with the possibility of reimbursement

In 2018, the UTPLS launched a Scholarship Fund. This fund was established to assist deserving and needing participants with associated tournament fees. Click here for more information.

In addition, many colleges and UofT grants can assist with extracurricular competitions and conferences. Trinity, Woodsworth, and St. Michael’s College have existing experiential learning bursaries which help reimburse these costs for low-income students, and other colleges.

How Do I Attend “Away” Competitions (at McGill or Carleton)? How Do I Get There? Where Do I Stay?

Competitors are responsible for arranging their own travel and accommodations at external “away” competitions, such as McGill or Carleton. However, if you are participating with our CAD/AMT Teams, most travel plans will be discussed by your Captain and/or Directors. If you are participating as an individual, you are responsible for handling your own travel accomodations.

How Can I Prepare For Competitions?

 

Mock Trial and Mooting are time commitments and it is unlikely you will do well if you are preparing last-minute. The best teams know the case inside-out, and have internalized the information so they can respond to various judges, witnesses, and opposing counsel. You should take care to make sure both your team is prepared to put in this time commitment. We also recommend you research previous Mock Competitions to see how previous teams have prepared their materials.

We offer practices to help familiarize competitors with the case, give tips regarding format and style, and connect teams so they have a forum for discussion and practice. We generally try to avoid directly answering questions however - we feel this does not produce the best results for teams.

Mooting

What Is The Competition Format?

Undergraduate mooting consists of teams of two, who each argue for one side of an appeals-level case (not a mock trial). Generally, Mooting consists of 2-Day Competitions; on the first day, all teams will go through 4 non-elimination rounds, arguing for each side twice. On the second day, the Top 8 teams on the basis of scoring from the first day compete in elimination rounds to determine a final champion.  

There is only ever one case being mooted, and you are expected to prepare submissions for both sides because you will have to represent both sides over the course of the entire day. 

How Does Each Round Work?

Each participant is given approximately 8 to 10 minutes of time. Participants are expected to fill up this time. The two Appellants will speak first, one after another, followed by the two Respondents. At some competitions, the Appellants will be given a 2 minute Right of Reply following the Respondents submissions.

Generally, if you need more time, you may request an extra minute or two and it may be granted at the judges' discretion. 

Submissions are not speeches, they are conversations meant to try and convince a judge to your viewpoint. Judges will frequently interject with their questions, and your responses should help advance your main point - or else you may find yourself debating something completely off-topic with the judge. You should respond to the opposing side's concerns and points, rather than trying to advance your point of view. 

There is really no substitute for competitions - the only way to become skilled at Moot Court is to participate in Moot Court. That being said, many competitors will have developed their public speaking skills through attending conferences, debates, Model UN, etc. None of these are necessary prerequisites by any means however. 

There is very poor correlation between your area of study or year of study and moot performance - we invite all students to participate in Moot Court. The only well-correlated factors in determining performance are mooting experience and time spent on practicing. 

What Makes the Best Mooter?

Mock Trial

What is the Competition Format?

Generally, Mock Trial is a two day competition held over one weekend (Saturday and Sunday). On the first day, all teams will go through 4 non-elimination rounds, arguing for each side twice. The eight teams that finish the first day of the competition with the highest overall scores will then proceed to compete on the second day. All teams other than the top eight will be eliminated and will not proceed to compete on the second day. Of course, eliminated teams are always welcome to attend and watch the second day’s rounds. On the second day, teams will compete in elimination rounds (based entirely on win/loss) to determine a final champion.

There is only ever one case per competition, and you are expected to prepare to present for both sides because you will have to represent both sides over the course of the entire day. 

What Are Team Sizes?

Team size depends on which Mock Trial competition you are attending.

UTPLS’s Mock Trial Competition requires teams of four. Each team will argue for one side of a criminal case (Crown & Defense). Each team is required to present with two lawyers and two witnesses. Lawyers will present Opening and Closing Arguments and conduct Direct and Cross Examinations. Witnesses should be prepared for a Direct and Cross Examination.

What Do I Do If Nobody On My Team Wants To Be A Witness?

There are pros and cons to each position on a Mock Trial team. That being said, each position contributes significantly to the success of a team. No position is weighed more or less heavily when calculating team performance.

Given that there are two sides to each case (Crown and Defense) and four team members, some teams find the most equitable solution is for each team member to present as a lawyer for one side (ex: Crown) while presenting as a witness for the other (ex: Defense). That way, each person has the opportunity to present as both a lawyer and a witness the same number of times. Of course, this is up to each team to determine for themselves. Some individuals may be better suited for or prefer different roles!

Please e-mail us at promo.utpls@gmail.com, or contact us through our Instagram Page (@utpls), for the quickest response!

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