Competition Organization
Mooting competitions consist of teams of 2, which typically compete in four Swiss-style preliminary rounds before progressing to elimination rounds. Teams will argue both sides of their case twice, forcing them to think about endless counter-arguments and be prepared to advocate for whichever side they are assigned. Competitors are required to focus on legal issues and remain consistent with courtroom decorum and formal arguments. A judge or panel of judges will interrupt regularly, challenging contestants' points and forcing them to pivot and think on their feet, getting their points across while addressing judges' concerns. Mooting helps to develop legal reasoning and presentation skills.
University of Toronto Pre-Law connects students to eight national tournaments a year (see below), helping them to gain advocacy experience and meet other students interested in the law. We provide training for new mooters to help them become familiar with the process and help experienced mooters hone their skills further. This year, our Mooting Directors and dedicated Mooting Board will be introducing an even more comprehensive mooting program, with a full-day training session in late September, a curated Moot Team, with applicants selected based on their performance in try-outs, and participation in international competitions for the first time ever.
The American team attends different tournaments each year based on funding and availability. More details can be found on the American Moot Court Association (AMCA )website below
Canadian Moot Competitions
the uoft moot team @ capital cup, 2019
hawks cup logo
Capital Cup at Carleton University, Ottawa
The first tournament of the year, the Capital Cup was established in 2011 by the Carleton Law Society. Hosted in Ottawa yearly, the final round is usually held in the hallowed halls of the Supreme Court of Canada.
For the 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 Moot Seasons, our teams attended Moot Competitions virtually, but they are looking forward to participating in the Capital Cup tournament, once they return in-person.
Past UofT Placements
2019-2020
Champions: Bill Xu & Ben MacLean-Max
Sixteenths: Kiki Kalochoridis & Alexandra Robbins; Paige Chu & Amelia Eaton.
Distinguished Oralists: Ben MacLean-Max, Alexandra Robbins.
2018-2019
Finalists: Ema Ibraković & Stefan Rus
Semi-Finals: Jacob Brozyna & Olivia Smith; Andrea Ho & David Baldridge
Quarter-Finals: Andrew Kidd & Eric Bryce
Sixteenths: Amelia Eaton & Paige Chu; Sofia Lin & Kevin Hong; Benjamin MacLean-Max & Bill Xu
Distinguished Oralists: Ema Ibraković, Kevin Hong, David Baldridge
2015-2016
Champions: Lucian Wang & Teodora Pasca
Distinguished Oralists: Lucian Wang, Teodora Pasca
Hawks Cup at Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo
Hawks Cup was established in 2020 by the Laurier Moot Court club.
Past UofT Placements
2020-2021
Champions: Alexandra Robbins & Darya Rahbar
Finalists: Paige Chu & Amelia Eaton
Semifinalists: Fayha Najeeb
Quarterfinalists: Angelina Zhang & Robin Yuen, Claire Parish & Victoria Liu, Matthew Allen & Lucy Stark
Distinguished Oralists: Alexandra Robbins, Darya Rahbar, Paige Chu, Amelia Eaton, Kate Shackleton, Neeharika Hemrajani
McGill Invitational at McGill University, Montreal
Established by our friends at the McGill Pre-Law Society, the McGill Invitational opened to other universities for the first time in 2016. 2020 will mark its sixth year in operation.
Past UofT Placements
2020-2021
Finalists: Amelia Eaton & Paige Chu
2019-2020
Quarter Finalists: Bill Xu & Ben MacLean-Max, Paige Chu & Amelia Eaton, and David Baldridge & Andrea Ho
Semi finalists: Angelina Zhang & Robin Yuen.
Distinguished Oralists: Alexandra Robbins, Angelina Zhang
2018-2019
Champions: Ema Ibraković & Stefan Rus
Finalists: Andrea Ho & David Baldridge
Distinguished Oralist: Ema Ibrakovic, Andrea Ho
2017-2018
Finalists: Teodora Pasca & Ayushi Thakur
Distinguished Oralists: David Baldridge, Ema Ibrakovic, Teodora Pasca, Ayushi Thakur
2016-2017
Finalists: Teodora Pasca & Solomiya Zakharchuk
Semi Finalists: Maddie Freedman & Ayushi Thakur, Ema Ibrakovic & Stefan Rus
Quarter Finalists: Sophia Glisch & Humayun Ahmed, Venus Wang & Mira Pijselman
Oralist Awards: Teodora Pasca, Jeremy Brodeur-Urbas, Venus Wang, Mira Pijselman, Ema Ibrakovic
2015-2016
Champions: Lucian Wang & Teodora Pasca
Distinguished Oralist: Lucian Wang
UofT @McGill Classic, January 2017
UofT Cup at University of Toronto, Toronto
2020 marks the fourth iteration of the UofT Cup, hosted by the UTPLS’s own Mooting Program. UTPLS’s Moot Directors and Moot Board run point on all operations of the UofT Cup. We are looking forward to running the tournament again for the 2022-23 season!
Past UofT Placements
2020-2021
Semi-Finalists: Alexandra Robbins & Darya Rahbar, Sam Lehman
2019-2020
Champion: Zeus Eden
Semi-Finalists: Andrea Ho & David Baldridge
Quarter-Finalists: Angelina Zhang & Robin Yuen
Distinguished Oralists: Angelina Zhang
2018-2019
Champions: Bill Xu & Benjamin MacLean-Max
Finalists: Paige Chu & Amelia Eaton
Quarter-Finalists: Anna Nabutovsky & Solomiya Zakharchuk, Olivia Smith
Distinguished Oralists: Benjamin MacLean-Max, Amelia Eaton, Olivia Smith, Solomiya Zakharchuk
2017-2018
Finalist: Sofia Lin
Semi-Finalist: Bill Xu & Benjamin McLean-Max; Andrea Ho & David Baldridge
Quarter-Finalists: Maria Hutt & Anna Nabutovsky; Solomiya Zaharchuk & Sylvia Wang; Sam Hauer & Nicholas Klid
2016-2017
Finalists: Ema Ibrakovic & Stefan Rus
Semi-Finalists: Amy Cao & Venus Wang; Jayun Bae & Arry Vasilodimitrakis-Hart
Quarter-Finalists: Sohaib Ahmed & Humayun Ahmed; Matthew Kronberg & Zachary Rosen
Distinguished Oralists: Sofia Lin, Zachary Rosen, Ema Ibrakovic
UofT @ Osgoode Cup, March 2016
Osgoode Cup at Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto
Held for the first time in 2005, the Osgoode Cup has a long tradition, entering in its 15th year this coming March. It is by far the most well-established and largest of the undergraduate mooting tournaments. Hosted at Osgoode Hall Law School at York University’s Keele campus, the tournament closes out the yearly mooting season.
Past UofT Placements
2019-2020
Quarter Finalists: Maria Hutt & Ian MacDonald; Paige Chu & Amelia Eaton
Sixteenths: Andrea Ho & David Baldridge
Distinguished Oralist: Amelia Eaton
2018-2019
Quarter-Finalists: Caroline Chen & Steven Han; Florian Nagy & Andrea Ho
Sixteenths: Ema Ibrakovic & Stefan Rus; Anna Nabutovsky & Solomiya Zakharchuk; Bill Xu & Benjamin MacLean-Max
Distinguished Oralists: Ema Ibrakovic, Benjamin MacLean-Max, Steven Han
2017-2018
Semi-Finalists: Teodora Pasca & Ema Ibrakovic
Sixteenths: Crystal Ng & Tom Lee; Venus Wang & Mira Pijselman; Bill Xu & Benjamin MacLean-Max
Distinguished Oralists: Solomiya Zakharchuk, Teodora Pasca, Benjamin MacLean-Max
2016-2017
Semi-Finalists: Ayushi Thakur & Maddie Freeman
Quarter-Finalists: Teodora Pasca & Ema Ibrakovic
Sixteenths: Eric Bryce & Andrew Kidd
Distinguished Oralists: Ayushi Thakur, Andrew Kidd, Harshita Iyer
2015-2016
Semi-Finalists: Madeleine Freeman & Ayushi Thakur
Sixteenths: Mira Pijselman & Emmy Fu
Distinguished Oralist: Jeremy Brodeur-Urbas
GH Cup at University of Guelph, Toronto
GH Cup was established in 2019 by the Guelph-Humber Pre-Law Society.
Past UofT Placements
2020-2021
Champions: Victoria Liu & Claire Parish
Semifinalists: Robin Yuen & Angelina Zhang, Mellisa Ing & Kate Shackleton
Distinguished Oralists: Claire Parish, Angelina Zhang, Victoria Liu, Kate Shackleton
highland cup logo
Highland Cup at the University of Toronto, Scarborough
Highland Cup was established in 2021 by the Law Society of the University of Toronto Scarborough.
Past UofT Placements:
2020-2021
Quarterfinalists: Alexandra Robbins & Darya Rahbar
Sixteenths: Fayha Najeeb & Neeharika Hemrajani
Distinguished Oralists: Alexandra Robbins
Lion’s Cup at York University, Toronto
The Lion’s Cup was the first of its kind as it was the first time a national moot was held at York University and the first mooting event held in the summer. The first annual Lion’s Cup was held in 2018 and 2019 will mark its second year in operation. As it is held in the summer, it is designed to provide students from universities and colleges from across the country the chance to compete outside of the regular academic school year.