Written by Court Reporter, Radina, Upper Sixth
After four months of intense preparation and dedication, the Richard Huish College mooting team has been crowned the winners of the South-West regional heat for the prestigious Bar Mock Trial competition. The team, consisting of 16 talented students and two dedicated staff members, emerged victorious in Plymouth on 25th January 2025, winning all three of their rounds against competing schools and colleges.
This remarkable achievement marks a historic moment for Huish, as it is the first time the institution has reached the national finals, an extraordinary feat given that the college only introduced mooting last year. The team now sets its sights on the grand stage: the national competition finals at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on 22nd March 2025.
The students invested countless hours preparing two challenging cases, R v Hinton and R v Speed, honing their legal skills through weekly lunchtime sessions, enrichment days, and rigorous practice in the college’s newly built mock courtroom. Under the expert guidance of ‘Master of Moots’ Law Teacher, Rob Durdin, and Law Course Manager, Rowena Mudge, the team benefited from invaluable coaching sessions with guest barristers.
The competition was an intense, all-day event that began with a 7 AM departure to Plymouth. The team showcased their legal prowess in three rounds, twice as the defence and once as the prosecution, securing a unanimous jury verdict in their favour each time. Their exceptional performances were met with high praise from the judge, a practising barrister, who stated that the standard was “extremely high.”
Reflecting on the victory, Rowena and Rob expressed their immense pride in the team’s hard work and dedication. “We are over the moon with the engagement and phenomenal effort of our students. Watching them perform and ultimately win was the icing on the cake! We couldn’t be prouder, bring on the finals!”
As the team prepares for the national finals, anticipation is high for their next challenge at the Royal Courts of Justice, but they will have the support of the entire Huish community who will eagerly await the outcome.