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LAW42190

Academic Year 2024/2025

Environmental Moot Court (LAW42190)

Subject:
Law
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Law
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Andrew Jackson
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
Online
Internship Module:
No
Module Type:
Clinical Module
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

In this module, students are given the opportunity to develop their legal research, writing and advocacy skills. Students are given a case study comprising a hypothetical factual scenario that raises issues of environmental law. Students are asked to identify the relevant legal issues arising from those facts and to prepare written legal submissions on behalf of their hypothetical client. Later in the module, students present their arguments orally as they would in court and will be expected to be able to answer any questions that the presiding judge may have. They will also be expected to respond to the arguments raised by the other side(s) in their written and/or oral submissions and to respond to any questions the judge may have.

In a typical year, the module is based on a common case study agreed with other EU universities, and comprises:

1. Moot (i.e. mock court hearing) within UCD (by Zoom)
2. Comparative session involving a discussion between all participating students/universities (by Zoom)
3. Session hosted by the European Commission, where the outcomes of the national moots are presented and an open discussion is held with the Commission regarding these outcomes and other topical issues of environmental law.

Students' written submissions and oral advocacy at the UCD moot will be assessed. Points 2 and 3 above are formative only and will not be assessed.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, diligent students should have:

- an understanding of courtroom etiquette and presentation
- an ability to identify relevant legal issues arising from the case study
- an ability to write concise legal submissions
- an ability to present legal arguments in a courtroom setting
- an ability to respond to legal arguments made by opponent(s)
- an ability to respond to a judge's questions
- an appreciation of the importance of meeting deadlines and the ability to meet same
- an ability to work on a case individually and as part of a team

Indicative Module Content:

- Introduction to mooting
- Approaching the case study
- Relevant aspects of the legal system
- Legal research and case preparation
- Preparing written submissions and bundles
- Referring to legal authorities and using bundles effectively
- Style, presentation and etiquette at the moot
- Demonstrating relevant legal knowledge and structure
- Responding to opponents' submissions
- Dealing with the judge

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

4
Autonomous Student Learning

275
Seminar (or Webinar)

20
Total

299

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Active/task-based learning; individual and group work; lectures/seminars; critical writing; enquiry & problem-based learning; case-based learning; mooting

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Individual Project: Oral advocacy at moot Week 12 Graded No
50
 No
Group Work Assignment: Written submissions for moot. Week 11 Graded No
50
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
Repeat (CFP) Within Three Semesters
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Written feedback to the group provided post-assessment

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 09:00 - 10:50
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