Moot trial equips law students

Blantyre-based legal firm DNC Chambers recently organised a moot trial between University of Malawi (Unima) and the Catholic University of Malawi (Cunima) where law students battled it out before High Court judges Mike Tembo, Jabbar Alide and Jean Kayira at the High Court in Blantyre. The University of Malawi students triumphed. Our News Analyst FRANK NAMANGALE talks to DNC Chambers senior partner DAVIS NJOBVU to learn more.

. First things first, what is a moot trial?   

. Well, a moot trial, or you can call it mooting, simulates a real court environment to give law students an opportunity to put their learning into practice. They appear before a real judge or panel of judges. Each side participating prepares both written and verbal arguments which they present to a judge, or panel of judges, at the moot trial. After hearing the arguments, the panel then makes a ruling based on these submissions and declares a winner. This time around, the competition was between the University of Malawi Unima and the Catholic University of Malawi (Cunima).

. Why did you sponsor this moot trial?

. Just after DNC was established; we also got to hear that Cunima has been accredited as a law school, which meant that we now have two accredited law schools in Malawi. In a way, we thought we should provide that platform where the students from the Cunima can start interacting with the other university, and not only the students, but even members of staff. Preparation for the moot trials also involves law lecturers who provide supervision as the students prepare for the court appearance.

. Is the idea of moot trials to get the best law students?

. Not at all. The idea is not so much to say who is the best law student or students, no. We belong to the same legal profession and we realise that whether it is Cunima or Unima, the lawyers that are going to come from there are going to serve one law profession in Malawi are going to be members of the Malawi Law Society, which is one society. So, the idea is to make sure that we serve our profession and ensure that we are standardising and providing uniformity to the training. As lawyers, we are expected to serve the profession and the nation with professionalism and expected competence.

. Would you please detail me how DNC Chambers recognised the competing students?

. The participating law students went out with trophies and cash prizes. We had the category of Best Memorials—and this went to Alain Moyo and Mwai Mapemba from Cunima.  On third place, it went to Bentry Nyondo and Taona Banda of Unima and also Alain Moyo and Mwayi Mapemba from Cunima. Second place went to Nicole Chombo and Seth Owen Mkandawire from Cunima, and topping the list on position one were Matthews Chawinga and Joel Elifala from Unima. Chawinga was also recognised as the best advocate.

. Was there anything more on offer?

. Oh! Yes, you may wish to know that as DNC Chambers, we have offered internship to the best advocate, Mathews Chawinga, and his partner, Joel Elifala; as well as Nicole Chombo from Cunima. This is an opportunity for them to gain further practical experience and work with our experienced lawyers. Our aim is to further support their development as future legal practitioners.