News

When: March 8-26, 2021
Where: Zoom 
Team members: Sarah Gray, Mariam Hanna, Will Hatfield and Claire Lingley
Coaches: Robert Currie and Sarah MacLeod

Mooters Sarah Gray, Mariam Hanna, Will Hatfield and Claire Lingley represented Schulich Law at the virtual Jessup Moot. The team also competed at both the Canadian National Rounds and the International Rounds this year against teams from Colombia, India, Moldova and the United States. Even though they did not make it to the final rounds, they fought vigourously and represented Schulich Law and their country ably.

"I want to publicly congratulate the team, who fought hard and put in such a wonderful effort in such a challenging year," says coach Currie. "I am a proud coach and my hat is off to them."

When: March 12-13, 2021
Where: Zoom 
Team members: Isaac Gray, Sophie Bahen, Izaak Sowa, TJ Wilson
Coaches: Ashley Hamp-Gonsalves and Roy Stewart

Mooters Isaac Gray, Sophie Bahen, Izaak Sowa, and TJ Wilson represented Schulich Law at the virtual Kawaskimhon Moot. This is a collaborative negotiation exercise moot, where all teams walk out as winners. 

The Kawaskimhon Moot is a two-day consensus based negotiation moot focused on legal issues facing Indigenous people in Canada. This year, the moot issue was about a Métis Nation in Saskatchewan wanting to deal with COVID-19 in its community, through the implementation of its own legislation. The negotiations involved in-depth discussions on a related self-government agreement, land governance agreement, as well as jurisdiction and law enforcement.

Mooters Gray, Bahen, Sowa, and Wilson divided into two teams, with each team representing the RCMP. The teams worked hard in developing detailed position papers, which helped guide them in their negotiations in which they advocated for the RCMP with respect to the enforceability of the draft legislation.

“Both teams developed an understanding of the unique, and complex, historical and legal relationship between Indigenous Nations and the Crown," explain coaches Hamp-Gonsalves and Stewart. "This enabled both teams to negotiate with confidence – with an end result that each team should be proud of.”

When: February 26-27, 2021
Where: Zoom 
Team members: Laura Burlock, Sam Beuerle, Chris Mallard, and Alanna Meyer 
Coaches: Professor Colin Jackson

Mooters Laura Burlock, Sam Beuerle, Chris Mallard, and Alanna Meyer represented Schulich Law at the virtual Donald G.H. Bowman National Tax Moot. Although the team fought hard and showed perseverance, they did not win. Congratulations to Osgoode Hall Law School on their victory.

"I think we all missed the fun of gathering together and meeting folks from other schools," says coach and Schulich Law Professor Colin Jackson. "The virtual moot provided a great learning experience for our team and they showed themselves to be very adaptable. The organizers and the judges also did a fantastic job of moving the event online."

When: February 26-28, 2021
Where: Zoom 
Team members: Erin Kennedy, Caitlin Menzcel, Sam Muise and Aly Sutton
Coaches: Professor Jodi Lazare

Erin Kennedy, Caitlin Menzcel, Sam Muise and Aly Sutton represented Schulich Law at the Laskin Moot this year. Although our team did not bring home any wins, all four mooters were excellent representatives of the law school. Congratulations to McGill University on their win.

Erin Kennedy and Caitlin Menzcel acted for the appellants, who challenged the federally-created National Pandemic Action Response Committee’s decision not to exempt the applicant’s immunocompromised daughter from a mandatory vaccination against AH, a new form of flu coming on the heels of Covid-19.

The appellants also challenged the constitutionality of the enabling legislation, the federal Act to safeguard Canadian health and economic prosperity. Sam Muise and Aly Sutton acted for the respondents to the Pandemic Response Committee. The decision is currently under deliberation.

"They each delivered their best performances, impressing the judges with their excellent advocacy skills, impressive legal knowledge, and overall professionalism," says coach and Schulich Law Professor Jodi Lazare. "Kudos to our team in making the best of the difficult situation that is mooting online during a pandemic. I am a proud coach!"

When: February 26-27, 2021
Where: Zoom 
Team members: Hannah Brison, Hannah Davis, Siobhan Donovan and Evan Hall 
Coaches: Mark Scott

Mooters Hannah Brison, Hannah Davis, Siobhan Donovan and Evan Hall represented the Schulich School of Law at the Gale Cup Moot. Although the team performed admirably, they did not take home the top prize. Congratulations to Université Laval on their win.

The case under appeal was R. v. Williams, and the main topic was the law of entrapment in dial-a-dope investigations. Our team competed against the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Alberta. In total, 18 law schools across the country competed.

"In my completely unbiased opinion, both teams won their moots. While they did not win or recieve any individual awards, they were among the very best teams that I have had the honour of coaching," says coach Mark Scott. "Each student peaked at the right time and impressed the panels of judges with their poise and ability to answer questions without skipping a beat."

When: February 18-20, 2021
Where: Zoom 
Team members: Anthony Buckland and Elizabeth Matheson
Coaches: Jeremy Smith, Brian Casey QC, and Michael Scott

Congratulations to Schulich Law mooters Anthony Buckland and Elizabeth Matheson who took home first place at the 20^th annual McKelvey Cup Moot. Their victory marks the fourth win for Schulich Law in the last six years. They will now represent the region at the national Sopinka Cup competition that will be held virtually in Ottawa this March.

Schulich Law student Eliza Richardson also received the award for best cross examination, as she and her partner Justin Monahan defeated a team from Université de Moncton.

The Schulich Law team was judged by a jury which included four judges from the Quebec and New Brunswick courts. A special thanks to supporters John Buhlman from Weir Foulds who is head of the national Sopinka Cup committee along with seven others, as well as the sponsors of the McKelvey Cup, Stewart McKelvey and the American College of Trial Lawyers. 

"It is always satisfying to watch students master new skills that they first had to struggle with," says coach Brian Casey. "This year we had the chance to do that together, because we all needed to learn the skills to transition from a real world to a virtual one."

When: February 19-20, 2021
Where: Zoom 
Team members: Tiffany Leung, Sarah Vooys, Caitlin Schropp, and Haley MacLean
Coaches: Anthony Rosborough 

Mooters Tiffany Leung, Sarah Vooys, Caitlin Schropp, and Haley MacLean represented the Schulich School of Law at the 13^th annual Harold G. Fox Intellectual Property Moot. This year’s moot problem focused on trademarks, and particularly, the entitlement to official marks; an oddity in Canadian law. The Schulich Law team performed extraordinarily well under pressure. Even though they did not advance to the finals, they were complimented for their deliberate, professional and approachable style. Congratulations to the University of Toronto on their win.

Our team was supported by intellectual property practitioners within law firms across Canada, faculty and alumni of the Fox Moot. We are thankful for their time and energy in contributing to this effort.

“As the Team’s coach, I could not be more proud of their enthusiasm, hard work and dedication over the past many months and weeks. They are an incredible group of advocates which individually show much promise for the future of the legal profession," says Anthony Rosborough. "I can only hope that their aspirations are to remain connected to the world of intellectual property law and practice in some way.”

When: January 30-31, 2021
Where: Zoom meetings for participants and bespoke web-streaming software for audience members
Team members: Erika Hertz and Ben Mosher
Coaches: Professor Liam McHugh-Russell and Eric Slone

Mooters Erika Hertz and Ben Mosher represented the Schulich School of Law at the 23^rd annual National Labour Arbitration Competition. Although the Schulich Law team performed admirably, the top prize ultimately went to the University of British Columbia.

Our team is very thankful for the support from lawyers at the Halifax firms Pink Larkin and McInnes Cooper, whose feedback in the final stretch helped the team sharpen their arguments.

“Mooting through Zoom presented a novel challenge this year. But many of the lawyers, arbitrators and adjudicators who helped run the moot this year made clear that online adjudication is not going away any time soon. So despite the downsides, the team gained some skills they wouldn’t have been able to practice in other years," says Professor McHugh-Russell. "Overall, we were both impressed by the work they put into their preparation and proud of their performance in these challenging circumstances.”