Heading into law school this fall? Looking to brush up on your skills? Meet soon-to-be classmates? Network with legal professionals? Win some great prizes?
The 2nd annual Varsity Cup will be happening the weekend of August 20th.
Registration closes August 16th.
Access the case now to get started.
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Discover fascinating case where a doctor sues a lawyer for defamation, in a court battle that will affect the very balance between free speech and truth.
Join us for a weekend of events, with an opening keynote and award ceremony, two thrilling competition rounds judged by lawyers and law students from across the country, and the competition finals judged by Lorne Sossin, former Dean of Osgoode Hall Law School, and Justice of the Ontario Court of Appeals.
The competition is open to law school students of all experience levels, with informative seminars hosted by legal professionals to help guide competitors through the case preparation process.
Want to learn more about mooting? Click here.
Each team of 2 will participate in 2 rounds of competition, judged by legal professionals
Students will analyze and argue a real Supreme Court case, with a thrilling set of facts.
$20 entry fee, with fee waivers available on a needs basis.
Sample Mock Trial
How to read a case
Sample Moot
Who can participate in this competition?
The Initiates Cup is designed for incoming 1Ls at Canadian law schools, as a way to welcome them into the profession, and providing them with a fun learning opportunity before the start of law school.
I've never mooted before, can I participate?
Absolutely! The Initiates Cup is designed as an entry-point for students who haven't had any experience in the past. We highly recommend that you check out our resources on mooting, which can be accessed by clicking here.
Do I need a partner?
No partner is needed for The Initiates Cup - Dominion will match you up with someone - ideally from the same law school as you. If you do have someone you'd like to partner up with,
What's the time commitment like?
A moot competition like this typically takes a day or two to prepare for - though we recommend putting some more time in to get the best results!
Is there research involved?
There is no research involved. Each team will be given a full case package, which will detail all the facts and laws needed to argue the case. Outside research is not allowed.
Which side do we argue?
Each team will argue for either the Appellant (Platnick) or the Respondent (Bent). Sides will be issued a week before the competition along with team assignments.
What kind of prizes are there?
There are a variety of awards and prizes which are given out at the end of the competition, ranging from textbooks to mugs, which are provided to students who distinguish themselves.
Awards are granted to the top individual oralists (achieving the highest cumulative score), the top teams, and the finalists.
Keynote Speech
Sathiyasangaree "Gary" Anandasangaree is a human rights lawyer, activist, and politician, who was elected to Parliament in 2015 representing Scarborough-Rouge Park. He currently serves as Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General of Canada.
Gary has been a prominent leader within his community, serving as the Canadian Tamils’ Chamber of Commerce (president), the Canadian Tamil Congress (counsel), and the Canadian Tamil Youth Development Centre (chairman).
Presiding Judge (Finals)
One of Canada’s most esteemed jurists, Marshall served as Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada from 2006 until his retirement in 2015, and he has over 50 years of judicial and legal experience.
Justice Rothstein's work has shaped the Canadian business law landscape, having authored more than 100 judgements and arbitral decisions. He currently works as partner in the tax litigation practice group at Oslers.
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