Fifth National Schools Moot Court helps shape young legal minds

JOHANNESBURG - Oct. 21, 2015 - PRLog -- Round two of the fifth annual National Schools Moot Court is to get underway this month, after teams from secondary schools around the country entered into debate on South Africa’s highly celebrated constitution.

The initiative is aimed at raising awareness and understanding in schools and communities around the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.  Through active participation, learners are exposed to the values and principles embodied by the constitution. They are given an opportunity to test their ability to think like lawyers and get a feel for law as a potential career path.

The provincial round took place during August and September. In this round, a team of two grade 10 or 11 pupils chosen based on an essays round was invited to participate. The teams were presented with a fictional legal scenario for which they needed to submit oral arguments to real magistrates in their province.

The four most impressive teams have now been to participate in the oral round to be held at the University of Pretoria in October. The two winning teams will argue a final round at the Constitutional Court of South Africa in Johannesburg, with the winners receiving financial assistance towards their first year at any South African law school.

The National Schools Moot Court has helped to mould young legal minds around the country since its inception in 2011. One such mind is that of Gift Kgomosotho, who participated in that first Moot Court. Working as a national organizer for this years’ event, Gift says “I truly believe in what the Moot Court is trying to achieve, and it’s one of the constitutive reasons that I pursued law as a career.”

The event is supported by, amongst others, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Department of Basic Education, the University of Venda and the Foundation for Human Rights and top legal firms and professionals from around the country. The semi-finals will take place at The University of Pretoria on the 11th of October 2015.