Rob, what silver spoon are you referring to?[full disclosure, I was born and raised in the USA. I've worked in more than 40 countries. I've lived in Europe for a decade, China and Japan for five years and call Australia home.]
Hi Jennifer,
"Rob, what silver spoon are you referring to?"
The one that most of our Brit left refers to every time that a well-educated guy gets into power; then, it becomes class warfare about them 'n' us and all that sort of stuff that is the standard, pop-up item in the socialist argument library. That everyone has the same voting rights is somehow lost in that brand of argument, and the projection is that, somehow, were you to go to Oxbridge, you'd rule the world. To show it ain't necessarily so, I enclose the following item where my granddaughter, Francesca, and her buddy scored the best results in this UK-wide contest in Law, two
Scottish students beating the best of England on English Law. I liked that.
"NEWS RELEASE 25th June 2010
In the 40th anniversary year, National Mooting Competition prize goes to Glasgow
The team from University of Glasgow is the winner of this year’s ESU - Essex Court Chambers National Mooting Competition. It is the first time that Glasgow has won the coveted silver mace.
Francesca Ruddy and Katherine Docherty from the University of Glasgow defeated Alexander Knight and Matilda Forbes Watson representing BPP Law School in the exciting evening final, which was held in the President’s Court of the Royal Courts of Justice last night. Earlier in the day, the teams had faced the University of Cambridge and Kings College London in the semi finals, held at Dartmouth House in London.
The grand final moot itself was of an exceptionally high standard. It was judged this year by a panel chaired by Dr Gavan Griffith QC (Australia), - a former Solicitor General Australia and now an International Commercial and Investment Disputes Arbitrator. The other two judges were:
Martin Griffiths QC, an Essex Court Chambers Silk best known for his work in Employment
and Professor Philippa Watson, an Essex Court Chambers barrister specialising in EU law and competition and Visiting Professor City University, London
The two winning Glaswegians, who first met each other at high school at St Aloysius’ College in Glasgow, were happy to be presented with the competition’s silver mace: “We’re absolutely delighted to bring an English Speaking Union prize to Scotland,” they explain.
“The experience of advocacy through mooting has given me a real understanding of law in practice that you just don’t get from reading text books,” commented Francesca and “ I have really enjoyed the challenge of tackling a different legal system successfully,” continued Katherine.
In a moot, two pairs of 'advocates' argue a fictitious legal appeal case in front of a 'judge'. To win, you do not necessarily have to win the legal case, but must make the best presentation of your legal arguments.
The winners received a silver Mace and a prize of £1,000 each. Their university, Glasgow, received a donation of £1,000. The runners up received “The Scarman Shield”, £750 each and the
BPP Law School received £500. The other semi-finalists did not go home empty handed, with each receiving received cash prizes of £250 each. The cash prizes were generously donated by Essex Court Chambers where all finalists will also be offered a mini-pupillage.
The competition, now in its fortieth year, is administered by the ESU, sponsored by Essex Court Chambers and supported by Legal Week as media partners
ends –
For further information or a copy of the related photographs please contact Teresa Harman
Tel 07770 425068 or Email:
teresaharman@th-marketing.co.uk PHOTO CAPTION: L to R Dr Gavan Griffith QC (Australia), Katherine Docherty, Professor Philippa Watson, Francesca Ruddy, Martin Griffiths QC
Editors Notes:
Essex Court Chambers
Essex Court Chambers is a leading commercial set of chambers. Its members act for a wide range of commercial and individual clients worldwide, including major City, national and international institutions, private companies and individuals. The work of Chambers comes from domestic and overseas law firms and from in-house legal teams, accountancy practices and other professional firms. Members of Chambers advise and act in a broad range of litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution worldwide. For further information visit
www.essexcourt.netThe English-Speaking Union - Creating global understanding through English
The English-Speaking Union is an international charity founded in 1918 to promote "international understanding and friendship through the use of the English language."
With almost 40 branches in the UK and over 50 overseas ESUs in countries in every part of the world, the ESU's mission to bring people together and share their experiences has never been more relevant.
The main objectives of the ESU are to:
· Provide a forum for international friendship and understanding through our support of the worldwide network of ESUs and the provision of secretariat facilities for the International Council at our headquarters at Dartmouth House, London
· Facilitate and assist the establishment and recognition of ESUs worldwide
· Focus on key current affairs issues through regular international conferences, seminars and meetings
· Promote English in international public speaking and debate for the support of worldwide communication and dialogue
· Encourage the enjoyment and constructive use of English through educational programmes
· Initiate and administer international youth exchange and work experience schemes
· Provide and create cultural activities
· Ensure the coordination and coherence of our activities through the skill and dedication of our staff and voluntary helpers
· Work in close and innovative partnership with our corporate members and sponsors
Legal Week, (part of Incisive Media plc) is the premier publisher of news and analysis for lawyers in the UK.
www.legalweek.com.
The Competition
The annual competition provides law students from universities and colleges throughout the United Kingdom with the opportunity to gain experience in their future roles as advocates. In taking part in a moot, students do not just show their knowledge and skill in handling legal materials, but also their ability to practise the art of forensic and persuasive argument in a concise and effective manner. Furthermore mooting enables students to gain confidence in a courtroom setting.
The competition is run on a simple knock-out basis and this year there were 64 entries."
So no, no silver spoon, and parents who, like Chris, self-sacrifice to make it happen. And, of course, kids who do the work.
Rob C