The AAT Moot

Alastair Henderson, Andrew Weston and Andrew Oud

The National Administrative Appeals Tribunal 2017 Mooting competition was a journey to remember. Beginning in the July university holidays it started off with three teams being entered by the University of Notre Dame with high hopes of doing well. Having signed up like young soldiers buoyed with a sense of optimism and adventure, not thinking about much else and armed only with our computers we were ready to divide and conquer. Little did we know the treacherous path that lay ahead with no certainty of victory at any stage.

As with all wars there are casualties, and this being a knockout competition was no exception. A loss meant there was no time to make up ground, after the first round two Notre Dame teams progressed after bundling out Murdoch University who are a formidable mooting university.

In the second round it was two teams from Notre Dame that were battling it out to claim the State title. There were obstacles to overcome as one of the teams had suffered a late casualty and needed to recruit another team member ready to do battle, but prepared they came. Unfortunately, there had to be a winner, the other team were gallant in defeat but also relieved at the prospects of heading home from the frontline to convalesce ready for competing next year.

After taking out the State Title a hardy battle was fought and won against the winners from the University of Melbourne and University of Tasmania via video-link. Three months later, after many late nights, take away food and messages back home replying to the question ‘When are you going coming home?’ there was a light at the end of the tunnel as we made the trip across the Nullarbor to compete in the final against the University of Wollongong.

Propelled by a wave of support from fellow Law students, staff and the University faculty we were lifted to make one last push for victory. Win or lose we knew we had given everything we had, fortunately the hard work and perseverance paid dividends and a win was achieved.

Strap yourselves in for a rollercoaster ride because this is exactly what it is like, the long and slow build up, followed by a plunge into the unknown and the associated adrenaline rush. Would we do it again? Absolutely! An opportunity not to be missed by students looking for the closest experience to a real-life courtroom. Always remember, the important part is the journey and not the destination.

Special thanks to Nick Summers, Professor Philip Evans and Professor Joan Squelch for their support to which such an outstanding result could not have been made possible without.

Originally published in the NDLSS Newsletter: Sundry Crimes, (2017) vol. 12(4), reproduced with permission.