Richard Huish College Mooters Compete in National Bar Mock Competition at the Royal Courts of Justice

The Huish Mooting team showcased their exceptional legal skills at the National Bar Mock Competition final held at the prestigious Royal Courts of Justice in London on 22^nd March. Featuring 214 schools and over 3,000 students, this year’s event marked one of the largest competitions since its inception in 1991.

The team secured their place in the national final by winning the South West regional heat held in Plymouth. In the heat, the team of 16 students delivered outstanding performances, winning all three rounds with unanimous jury verdicts in their favour. Their exceptional skills were highly praised by the judge, a practicing barrister, who described the standard as “extremely high.”

In the final, the Huish Mooters performed strongly once more, triumphing in two out of three verdicts. After 30 years of competing, The Boswells School team excelled and were crowned the winners of the National Bar Mock Competition 2025.

Mooting was only introduced at Huish last year, and the Law department is only getting stronger. The Huish Law School recently celebrated its official launch with MP Gideon Amos inaugurating the college’s mock courtroom, the first of its kind on a college campus in the South of England. This state-of-the-art facility was made possible through the generous support of various businesses, including HM Courts and Tribunal Service and Equans.

The Huish Law School aims to provide students with an educational experience that goes beyond mere qualifications. Students benefit from a range of enrichment activities, including The Law Society (sponsored by Davitt Jones Bould), mooting competitions, and opportunities such as the annual Law Conference, where they can engage directly with legal professionals.

This year’s Law Conference featured insightful talks and workshops by a District Judge, the Avon and Somerset Police Dog Unit, Exeter City Council, Davitt Jones Bould, the National Crime Agency (NCA), The University of Law, and the Crown Prosecution Service.

The dedicated mooting team spends countless hours preparing their cases and honing their legal skills through enrichment days and rigorous weekly practice in the mock courtroom. They also benefit from invaluable coaching sessions with guest barristers.

In response to the students’ dedication, the local community stepped up with generous investments to support the mooting team’s bid to reach the National Bar Mock Final. Notable contributions to travel costs were made by Clarke Willmott and Stephens Scown LLP, alongside donations from Amicus Law, Albion Chambers and Somerset Freemasons (Taunton Lodge, Perpetual Friendship Lodge, Tyne Lodge, Admiral Blake Lodge, West Quantock Lodge, Exmoor Lodge, and more). Barristers Emma Martin and Rupert Russell from Albion Chambers spent the day coaching the mooters, and Clarke Willmott helped the team look the part for the prestigious event by providing team hoodies.

Rowena Mudge, Huish Law Course Manager shared “The Royal Courts of Justice were amazing, the students received phenomenal feedback from real judges, and we had the privilege of meeting the Attorney General’s Office (UK), The Rt Hon Lord Hermer KC, who gave my students the most wonderful personal Q&A! 2025 Regional Winners and National Finalists, not bad when we only started mooting 18 months ago!”