Mooting Program
Lincoln Alexander School of Law’s Mooting and Lawyering Skills Program provides students with the opportunity to dive into a broad range of research, problem solving and oral advocacy skills that are invaluable within the legal profession.
For any questions or concerns regarding the law school’s Mooting and Lawyering Skills Program, please contact Landon Shein at landon.shein@torontomu.ca.
We are incredibly proud of Lincoln Alexander Law students' performances in the 2023-2024 competitive mooting and lawyering skills program. Read more about last year's results (opens in new window) .
First-Year Moots
Beginning in first year, students are exposed to mooting through mandatory courses and assignments found within the Integrated Practice Curriculum (IPC). Later in their first year, students can compete in internal mooting competitions that will allow them to work through simulated and novel problems touching on ground-breaking legal issues of today. These competitions enable students to build critical skills, work with practitioners in the field and collaborate closely with classmates.
All first year students are required to participate in a mandatory moot as part of their Legal Research and Writing class. Students will learn key advocacy skills in an instructional setting as they work through an evolving fact scenario over the course of their first semester.
First year students also have the opportunity to participate in a 1L moot, which allows for a hands-on and in-depth experience of what it is like to moot competitively as an upper year student.
Upper-Year Moots
Upper-year students have the opportunity to represent the Lincoln Alexander School of Law at a large number of external moot competitions at the regional, national and international levels. Students who are selected to represent our school in this capacity receive supplement training in the areas of advocacy, legal drafting and legal research from Practitioners and Faculty.
During the 2024 - 2025 academic year, Lincoln Alexander Law will be competing in the following competitive appellate moot court competitions: the Adam F. Fanaki Competition Law Moot, the Davies' Annual Corporate/Securities Law Moot, the Donald G. Bowman Tax Moot, the Gale Cup Moot, the Harold G. Fox IP Moot, the Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Law Moot, the Julius Alexander Isaac Moot, the Kawaskimhon National Aboriginal Moot, the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot, the Walsh Family Law Moot and the Wilson Moot. Students who participate in these moot competitions will receive academic credit.
Students will also receive academic credit for their participation in the Arnup Cup, the National Labour Arbitration Competition and the Kawaskimhon Aboriginal Rights Moot.
Overview of the Adam F. Finaki Competition Law Moot
The Adam F. Fanaki Competition Law Moot (external link) is organized by the Competition Bureau, the Competition Tribunal and the Canadian Bar Association. The Adam F. Fanaki Competition Law Moot enables Canadian law students to address intricate civil or criminal issues in the evolving field of competition law, which aims to balance private economic incentives with public interests. The Fanaki Moot is the only forum for Canadian law students to tackle some of our country’s most pressing issues in the area of law and economics.
Team Composition
- 4 Oralists
- 1 Researcher
Total: 5 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: Towards the end of March
Factum Due Date:
- Appellant Factum: At the end of January
- Respondent Factum: Beginning of February
Location: The Federal Court of Canada, Toronto, ON
Course Credit
Participation in the moot is recognized under the course JUR 301 Moot Court Competition, offered during the Winter semester. Researchers receive course credit through JUR 345 Directed Studies in the Winter semester.
Prerequisite Courses
Participants are required to have completed JUR 350 Competition Law and Policy and oralists are required to have completed JUR 305 Moot and Advocacy Skills, offered in the Fall semester.
Tryout Process
Orlaits qualify for the Finaki Moot through the McCarthy Tétrault Cup held in May. The researcher qualifies by application in September.
Overview of the Davies Corporate/Securities Law Moot
The Davies’ Corporate/Securities Law Moot (external link) has students engage current legal problems in the world of corporate and securities law. Unique to the Davies’ each team will argue both positions as an appellant and as a respondent over the course of two days.
Team Composition
- 4 Oralists
- 1 Researcher
Total: 5 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: Towards the end of February
Course Credit
Participation in the moot is recognized under the course JUR3 01 Moot Court Competition, offered during the Winter semester. Researchers receive course credit through JUR 345 Directed Studies in the Winter semester.
Prerequisite Courses
Participants are required to have completed JUR 230 Securities Regulations and Policy and oralists are required to have completed JUR 305 Moot and Advocacy Skills, offered in the Fall semester.
Tryout Process
Orlaits qualify for the Donald G.H. Bowman National Tax Moot through the McCarthy Tétrault Cup held in May. The researcher qualifies by application in September.
Overview of the Donald G.H. Bowman National Tax Moot
The Donald G.H. Bowman National Tax Moot (external link) , Canada's premier competitive moot on taxation, pays tribute to the Honourable Donald G.H. Bowman, former Chief Justice of the Tax Court of Canada. Since 2017, the moot has been bilingual, allowing arguments in either of Canada's official languages.
Team Composition
- 4 Oralists
- 1 Researcher
Total: 5 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: Beginning of March
Factum Due Date: The facta of all teams are due on the same day, to be submitted by early February
Location: The Federal Court of Canada, Toronto, ON
Course Credit
Participation in the moot is recognized under the course JUR 301 Moot Court Competition, offered during the Winter semester. Researchers receive course credit through JUR 345 Directed Studies in the Winter semester.
Prerequisite Courses
Participants are required to have completed JUR 310 Tax Law and Practice and oralists are required to have completed JUR 305 Moot and Advocacy Skills, offered in the Fall semester.
Tryout Process
Orlaits qualify for the Donald G.H. Bowman National Tax Moot through the McCarthy Tétrault Cup held in May. The researcher qualifies by application in September.
Overview of the Gale Cup Moot
Established in 1974, the Gale Cup Moot (external link) is Canada’s leading bilingual moot court competition for law students. During oral arguments, participants are required to wear a barrister's robe over their business suit. In the final round, participants will switch sides, with those who argued as appellants now representing the respondents, and vice versa.
Team Composition
- 4 Oralists
- 1 Researcher
Total: 5 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: Beginning of February
Factum Due Date:
- Appellant Factum: At the beginning of January
- Respondent Factum: In the middle of January
Location: Toronto, ON
Course Credit
Participation in the moot is recognized under the course JUR 301 Moot Court Competition, offered during the Winter semester.
Prerequisite Courses
Participants are required to have completed JUR 309 Criminal Procedure and JUR 305 Moot and Advocacy Skills, offered in the Fall semester.
Tryout Process
Teams qualify for the Gale Cup through the McCarthy Tétrault Cup held in May. The researcher qualifies by application in September.
Overview of the Harold G. Fox Moot
The Harold G. Fox Moot (external link) focuses on intellectual property law and offers participants engagement with esteemed judiciary members and practitioners. The moot is named to commemorate the legacy of Harold G. Fox, a distinguished Canadian scholar and advocate in the field of intellectual property. The winners of the Harold G. Fox Moot are invited to the Oxford International Intellectual Property Law Moot.
Team Composition
- 4 Oralists
- 1 Researcher
Total: 5 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: Towards the end of February
Factum Due Date:
- Appellant Factum: At the beginning of January
- Respondent Factum: In the middle of January
Location: Toronto, ON
Course Credit
Participation in the moot is recognized under the course JUR301 Moot Court Competition, offered during the Winter semester.
Prerequisite Courses
Participants are required to have completed JUR 208 Intellectual Property Law and JUR 305 Moot and Advocacy Skills, offered in the Fall semester.
Tryout Process
Teams qualify for the Harold G. Fox IP Moot through the McCarthy Tétrault Cup held in May. The researcher qualifies by application in September.
Overview of the Immigration, Refugee, Citizenship Law Moot
Founded in 2020, the Immigration, Refugee, Citizenship Law Moot (external link) offers a platform for students to hone their advocacy skills in immigration, refugee, and citizenship law.
Team Composition
- 4 Oralists
- 1 Researcher
Total: 5 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: At the end of February to the beginning of March
Factum Due Date: Beginning of February
Location: Toronto, ON
Course Credit
Participation in the moot is recognized under the course JUR 301 Moot Court Competition, offered during the Winter semester.
Prerequisite Courses
Participants are required to have completed JUR 308 Immigration Law or JUR 226 Refugee Law and JUR 305 Moot and Advocacy Skills, offered in the Fall semester.
Tryout Process
Teams qualify for the Immigration, Refugee, Citizenship Law Moot through the McCarthy Tétrault Cup held in May. The researcher qualifies by application in September.
Overview of the Julius Alexander Isaac Moot
The Black Law Students’ Association of Canada (BLSA Canada) is a student-led, non-profit organization. In 2012, the moot (external link) was renamed in honor of Julius Alexander Isaac, the late Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Appeal and the first Black judge to serve on the Federal Court of Canada. Since its inception in 2008, The Isaac has annually explored legal fields where questions of equity and diversity hold significant relevance.
Team Composition
- 4 Oralists
- 1 Researcher
Total: 5 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: At the beginning of February
Factum Due Date: Due in the middle of January
Location: Ontario Court of Appeal, in Toronto, ON
Course Credit
Participation in the moot is recognized under the course JUR 301 Moot Court Competition, offered during the Winter semester.
Prerequisite Courses
Participants are required to take JUR 305 Moot and Advocacy Skills, offered in the Fall semester.
Tryout Process
Teams qualify for the Julius Alexander Isaac Moot through the McCarthy Tétrault Cup held in May, along with consultation with BLSA. The researcher qualifies by application in September.
Overview of the Jessup International Law Moot
The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot (external link) offers law students the chance to craft written and oral submissions on intricate public international law issues. It is the oldest and largest international law moot competition.It simulates a public international law dispute between two nations, presented before the International Court of Justice, the United Nations' judicial body. In March, Canadian law schools host a qualifying tournament where teams compete. The top two teams from Canada then advance to the international round held in Washington, D.C.
Advancing teams from the national rounds of the Jessup International Law Moot will proceed to compete in the White & Case International Rounds, scheduled for the end of March 2025. Teams that further advance will have the opportunity to participate in the world championship match, which takes place at the beginning of April 2025.
Team Composition
- 4 Oralists
- 1 Researcher
Total: 5 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: January-March 2025
Factum Due Date: January 14, 2025
Location: Washington, D.C.
Course Credit
Participation in the moot is recognized under the course JUR 301 Moot Court Competition, offered during the Winter semester.
Prerequisite Courses
Participants are required to have completed JUR 216 Critical Race Theory and JUR 305 Moot and Advocacy Skills, offered in the Fall semester.
Tryout Process
Teams qualify for the Jessup International Law Moot through the McCarthy Tétrault Cup held in May. The researcher qualifies by application in September.
Overview of the Oxford IP Moot
The Oxford Intellectual Property Moot (external link) takes place every year in Oxford, UK, organized by the Oxford Intellectual Property Research Centre and the Moot Committee. This competition invites university teams worldwide to submit written arguments. Based on these submissions, selected teams are invited to participate in the oral rounds. During the oral rounds, students are evaluated by top Intellectual Property law counsel from across the globe, with the final round judged by three UK judges. This event provides an excellent opportunity for networking and learning from seasoned legal professionals.
Team Composition
3 students who have participated in the Harold G. Fox Moot from Lincoln Alexander School of Law. The team that prepares the written submissions must also present the oral arguments, with the team consisting of two to three members.
Date Estimates
Competition Day: Typically, the moot is held over 3 days in March in Oxford, UK
Factum Due Date: Middle of December
Location: Oxford, UK
Course Credit
Participation in the moot is recognized under the course JUR 345 Directed Studies, typically offered during the Winter semester.
Prerequisite Courses
Participants are required to have completed JUR 208 Intellectual Property Law.
Tryout Process
Only students who have previously participated in the Harold G. Fox IP Moot may participate in the Oxford IP Moot. Students must submit the appellant and respondent factums and be selected by the Oxford committee.
Overview of the Walsh Family Law Moot
The Walsh Family Law Moot Competition (external link) was created to strengthen connections between law schools and legal professionals, promote the study of family law, and enhance the knowledge of law students in this field.
Team Composition
- 4 Oralists
- 1 Researcher
Total: 5 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: The competition will be held at the beginning of March
Factum Due Date:
- Appellant Factum: At the beginning of February
- Respondent Factum: In the middle of February
Location: Osgoode Hall, Toronto, ON
Course Credit
Participation in the moot is recognized under the course JUR 301 Moot Court Competition, offered during the Winter semester.
Prerequisite Courses
Participants are required to have completed JUR 202 Family Law and JUR 305 Moot and Advocacy Skills, offered in the Fall semester.
Tryout Process
Teams qualify for the Walsh Family Law Moot through the McCarthy Tétrault Cup held in May. The researcher qualifies by application in September.
Overview of the Wilson Moot
Founded in 1992 under the stewardship of Melanie Aitken, former Commissioner of Competition for Canada, (PDF file) the Wilson Moot honors the legacy of the late Honourable Bertha Wilson, a distinguished figure in Canadian law. The Wilson Moot focuses on exploring legal issues pertinent to women and minorities, aiming to enhance legal education and professional development in these critical areas. Each moot problem tackles significant societal concerns, such as Charter implications in child support taxation, freedom of religion in state-funded education, challenges to anti-terrorism laws, and rights protection under human rights legislation.
Team Composition
- 4 Oralists
- 1 Researcher
Total: 5 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: Held in late February at the Federal Court venue in Toronto
Factum Due Date: Middle end of January
Location: The Federal Court of Canada, Toronto, ON
Course Credit
Participation in the moot is recognized under the course JUR 301 Moot Court Competition, offered during the Winter semester.
Prerequisite Courses
Participants are required to have completed JUR 212 Charter of Rights and Freedoms and JUR 305 Moot and Advocacy Skills, offered in the Fall semester.
Tryout Process
Teams qualify for the Wilson Moot through the McCarthy Tétrault Cup held in May. The researcher qualifies by application in September.
Lawyering Skills Program
Lincoln Alexander Law’s lawyering skills program provides students with the opportunity to experience and develop skills lawyers use outside of the courtroom, including negotiation and client counseling skills. These competitions promote a greater interest among law students in legal negotiation and provide a means for them to practice and improve their ability to understand and advocate for their clients’ needs.
First year and upper year students can participate in the Lincoln Alexander Cup, which is an internal negotiation competition. From there, students can go on to represent the school at the Canadian Client Consultation Competition, the Canadian National Negotiation Competition and the Walsh Family Law Negotiation.
Overview of the Arnup Cup/Pre-Sopinka Cup
The Arnup Cup (external link) is an annual trial advocacy competition for Ontario law schools. It was established in 1988 and is named after the Honourable John D. Arnup, O.C., Q.C., a former distinguished member of the Ontario Court of Appeal and one of Canada’s leading litigation lawyers. The winning team from this competition gets the opportunity to represent Ontario in the prestigious Sopinka Cup, the national trial advocacy competition held annually in Ottawa.
The Sopinka Cup
The Sopinka Cup (external link) is named in honor of the Honourable Justice John Sopinka, a leading trial and appellate advocate who was appointed directly from practice to the Supreme Court of Canada. Justice Sopinka was involved in many high-profile cases and was known as one of Canada’s most respected judges. Following his unexpected death in November 1997, the American College of Trial Lawyers, in collaboration with his family and colleagues, established the Sopinka Cup competition. This national trial advocacy competition for Canadian law schools began in 1999.
Team Composition
- 2 Oralists
- 1 Alternate
Total: 3 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: The beginning of February
Location: Toronto, ON
Course Credit
Participation in this lawyering skills competition is recognized through JUR 345 Directed Studies in the Winter semester.
Prerequisite Courses
Participants are required to have completed JUR 311 Evidence.
Tryout Process
Teams qualify for the Arnup Cup through an opening statement exercise in the fall, typically in October.
Overview of the Canadian Client Consultation Competition
The Canadian Client Consultation Competition (CCCC) (external link) simulates a law office environment where law students from various Canadian law schools act as lawyers addressing a client's issue. During the competition, students interview an individual portraying a client, gathering relevant information, explaining applicable laws, presenting potential solutions, and helping the client decide on the best course of action. After the interview, students have a post-consultation period to analyze the discussion and plan the necessary follow-up work.
The top-ranking team from the Canadian competition earns the chance to compete in the annual Louis M. Brown and Forrest S. Mosten International Client Consultation Competition, which features law students from over 25 countries.
Team Composition
- 4 students for each one's team, open to 1Ls-3Ls
Total: 4 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: The beginning of March
Location: Different Canadian universities host the competition on a rotating schedule.
Course Credit
Course Credit is not available for the Canadian Client Consultation Competition.
Prerequisite Courses
No prerequisite courses, but JUR 231 Negotiation Theory and Practice is recommended.
Tryout Process
Tryout through the Lincoln Alexander Cup Negotiation Competition in the fall.
Overview of the Canadian National Negotiation Competition
Founded in 2017, the Canadian Negotiation Competition (CNNC) (external link) promotes alternative dispute resolution, strengthens ties among Canadian law schools, and acts as a qualifier for the annual International Negotiation Competition. Teams of two students from law schools across Canada participate, showcasing their negotiation skills in simulated scenarios representing different parties.
Team Composition
- 2 teams of 2 students
Total: 4 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: The beginning of March
Location: Windsor, ON
Course Credit
Course Credit is not available for the Canadian Client Consultation Competition.
Prerequisite Courses
No Prerequisite Courses.
JUR 231 Negotiation Theory and Practice recommended.
Tryout Process
Tryout through the Lincoln Alexander Cup Negotiation Competition in the fall.
Overview of the Hockey Arbitration Competition of Canada
The Hockey Arbitration Competition of Canada (HACC) is a unique event for sports law enthusiasts, organized solely by law students from the University of Toronto. It replicates the salary arbitration process of the National Hockey League (NHL), providing participants with a chance to refine their oral and written advocacy skills in the specialized field of NHL salary arbitration.
Team Composition
- 2 teams of 2 students
Total: 4 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: Mid-November
Location: Hosted by the University of Toronto
Course Credit
No Course Credit.
Prerequisite Courses
Participants are required to have completed or be enrolled in JUR 228 Sports and Entertainment Law.
Tryout Process
The selection will be through the Lincoln Alexander Advocacy Society (LAAS).
Overview of the InterNational Academy of Dispute Resolution Law School Tournament
The International Law School Mediation Tournament, sponsored annually by the International Academy of Dispute Resolution (INADR), is a prestigious event held each spring in Chicago, IL. It provides law students with a valuable opportunity to learn diverse mediation techniques and practices through friendly competition with peers from various cultural backgrounds.
Each team of three students participates in three preliminary rounds, assuming roles as mediators, advocates, and clients. Mediators collaborate in pairs, often with students from different schools, promoting cooperation in reaching resolutions rather than fostering competition. Judges evaluate based on teamwork with co-mediators, effective listening skills, the ability to assist advocates and clients in assessing their cases, maintaining professionalism, and guiding parties toward mediated resolutions.
Team Composition
- 1 Team of 3 Students
Total: 3 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: Mid-February
Location: Switches between Chicago and various international venues
Course Credit
TBD
Prerequisite Courses
TBD
Tryout Process
TBD
Overview of the Kawaskimhon National Aboriginal Moot
The Kawaskimhon National Aboriginal Moot, (external link) unique among moot court competitions globally, emphasizes Aboriginal customs of peaceful negotiation and consensus-building over adversarial competition. Guided by Aboriginal facilitators and elders, teams work towards consensus, integrating personal perspectives to address issues impacting Aboriginal communities. Spanning two days, it rotates among host law schools each year, with teams representing a variety of entities, including First Nations, government agencies, unions, and human rights groups, based on the moot's scenario.
Team Composition
- 3 Team Members
Total: 3 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: Beginning of March
Written Submission: The organizing law school develops the moot case and requests teams to submit a written document before the negotiations commence. Examples from previous years include drafts of community-based laws, position papers, policies, and regulations.
Location: The competition is hosted each year by a different law school.
Course Credit
Participation in this lawyering skills competition is recognized through JUR 345 Directed Studies.
Prerequisite Courses
No prerequisite courses.
JUR 332 Indigenous Dispute Resolution or JUR 231 Negotiation Theory and Practice recommended.
Tryout Process
Tryouts will be through applications in the fall.
Overview of the National Labour Arbitration Competition
Labor law poses a distinctive advocacy challenge not often encountered in other legal domains. In 1999, Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark identified the need to cultivate expertise in this field among Canadian law students, prompting the creation of the annual Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark National Labour Arbitration Competition (NLAC) (external link) .
Teams from law schools across Canada gather with Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark to engage in simulated grievance arbitration hearings before tri-partite panels.
Team Composition
- 2 Oralists
Total: 2 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: The competition occurs during a single weekend in January
Location: The Ontario Labour Relations Board in Toronto, ON
Course Credit
Participation in this lawyering skills competition is recognized through JUR 345 Directed Studies.
Prerequisite Courses
No prerequisite courses.
JUR 332 Indigenous Dispute Resolution or JUR 231 Negotiation Theory and Practice recommended.
Tryout Process
Tryouts will be through applications in the fall.
Overview of the Walsh Family Law Negotiation
The Walsh (external link) is a competitive moot and negotiation competition designed for second and third-year law students, offering exposure to various challenges encountered by family law practitioners.
Team Composition
- 2 teams of 2 students, open to 2Ls & 3Ls
Total: 4 Participants
Date Estimates
Competition Day: In Mid-March
Location: Toronto, ON
Course Credit
No Course Credit.
Prerequisite Courses
Participants are required to have completed JUR 202 Family Law.
Tryout Process
Tryout through the Lincoln Alexander Cup Negotiation Competition in the fall.