Uncategorized – The Osgoode Cup

The Osgoode Cup is Canada’s only National Undergraduate Mooting Competition and is dedicated to providing access to Justice and Advocacy. Mooting is an important component of a well-rounded legal education. The Osgoode Cup gives Undergraduate and College students hands-on experience in arguing an appeal in a case specially designed to challenge and develop their oral and written advocacy skills in preparation for Law School.

This year, 63 teams of two from 5 Provinces and 18 Colleges and Universities argued the appeal of R v Gomboc and had to be prepared to make submissions for both the appellant and respondent in 4 rounds.

We would like to thank our dedicated team of volunteers, as well as the over 50 volunteer Lawyers, Law students, Professors, and Judges who came out to judge at the cup this year.

Congratulations to our Champions: Natalie Kolos and Christopher Gibson From Carleton University

Our Finalists were: Allie Allison and Deborah Mazer from the University of Toronto

Our Semi Finalists were:
Katrina Crocker and Jordan Brezer from Carleton University
Andrew McGregor and Nicholas Valsamis from Carleton University

And our Quarter Finalists were:
Paige Diebel and Fallon Burns from Humber College
Emily McMurtry and Aaron King from Carleton University
Daniel Rees and Alex Marshall from Memorial University
Colin A. Stephens and Lee Garrett from Carleton University

Our Top Oralist was:
Katrina Crocker

Our Distinguished Oralists were:
(in no particular order)
Allie Allison
Christopher Gibson
Nicholas Valsamis
Paige Diebel
Jordan Brezer
Cora Xiao
Andrew McGregor
Natalie Kolos
Emily McMurtry

What the Mooters liked most about the Osgoode Cup:
The competitive atmosphere. Best of the best.

It was fun, I had great times with all my friends, and as always, it was a good challenge that helped me in my oral advocacy skills.

The chance to get feedback from established judges and be able to work on advocacy skills.

Mooting with people from all over Canada!

The high level of competition, the professionalism of all involved.

Justice O’Connor’s speech after the final panel was the highlight of this year’s Osgoode Cup.

I was very impressed with the quality of judging, through questions and feedback, at least in terms of the ones(judges) I went before.

The competition was fantastic to say the least, I really appreciate the opportunity to have competed with so many tough schools/teams – I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Furthermore, it confirmed what I already knew- law school is most definitely my next move. In saying that, I will definitely be keeping my sights on both the competition and Osgoode itself in the next few years. – Alexandra Doran

The case was very interesting to go through, and it was fun to be able to compete against 4 teams in the first day.

It was a great learning experience and judges provided great feedback.

Seeing the school, meeting other law students/professionals.

Thanks again 2014’s Sponsors:
Platinum:

Silver:

Bronze:

Thank you, and see you next year,

The Osgoode Cup Team.

2014 Osgoode Cup Gallery

Results:

2005 Osgoode Cup Winners: Ali Ayoub and Domenic Bianchi (York University)

Finalists: Navdeep Gill and Gurpreet Singh (York University/University of Toronto)

Semi-Finalists:
Katie Mahon and Jeff Culp (Carleton University)
Manraj Rai and Gurminder Singh (University of Toronto)

Top Oralists:
Ali Ayoub (York University)
Domenic Bianchi (York University)
Jeff Culp (Carleton University)
Dihim Emami (University of Toronto)
Navdeep Gill (University of Toronto)
Daniel Vertlieb (Queen’s University)

Announcement: York Team Wins Osgoode Cup Undergraduate Mooting Competition by Virginia Corner Communications Manager Osgoode Hall Law School.York University students Ali Ayoub and Domenic Bianchi were the winning team in the inaugural Osgoode Cup Undergraduate Mooting Competition held over the weekend of March 5 and 6 at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto.
Ten four-member teams of undergraduate students from a number of Ontario universities participated in the Competition, which was sponsored by the law firm of Beard Winter LLP. York students Navdeep Gill and Gurpreet Singh, who were members of a joint U of T/York team, placed second. Two teams tied for third place: Manraj Rai and Gurminder Singh from U of T, and Katie Mahon and Jeff Culp from Carleton.
Ayoub, 21, and Bianchi, 22, were also named top oralists, along with Jeff Culp of Carleton, Dihim Emami of U of T, Navdeep Gill of U of T, and Daniel Vertlieb of Queen’s.
The Osgoode Cup is a fun way for students with an interest in law to get a taste of what it is like to act as lawyers in an appeal before real judges. A “moot” is a mock legal proceeding in which students argue an appeal in a case specially designed to challenge and develop their oral and written advocacy skills. This year’s case dealt with the responsibility of social hosts when their party guests consume alcohol and Injure unrelated/innocent third parties.
“It was an awesome experience,” said Ayoub, a third-year psychology student at York who is also a member of York’s Pre-Law Society for undergraduate students who have an interest in law. “I definitely recommend the competition to anyone considering law or interested in public speaking.”.

For Saturday’s two preliminary rounds, judges included upper-year Osgoode students, Osgoode faculty members and members of the Ontario Bar. As well, Osgoode alumni served as coaches for each team. For Sunday’s semi-final and final rounds, the judges were Madam Justice Rose Boyko, Madam Justice Andromache Karakatsanis and Madam Justice June Maresca of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario; David Jarvis, a partner with Beard Winter; and Osgoode Dean Patrick Monahan.

“Everyone had a huge amount of fun and it was a great learning experience for the students,” Monahan said. “The judges commented on how impressed they were with the calibre of argument, given that the competitors were undergraduate students who had never attended law school.”
In 2006, the Osgoode Cup will become a national competition and, thanks to the generosity of sponsors, students from outside Ontario will receive travel bursaries to enable them to participate in next year’s competition.

Pictures from the first Osgoode Cup:

Left to right: Madam Justice Rose Boyko; Osgoode Cup Undergraduate Mooting Competition second-place winners and York University students Gurpreet Singh and Navdeep Gill of the joint University of Toronto-York University team; Osgoode Dean Patrick Monahan

Katie Mahon (left) of Carleton University; Madam Justice June Maresca; Dean Patrick Monahan; and Jeff Culp of Carleton. Mahon and Culp tied for third place in the Osgoode Cup Undergraduate Mooting Competition.

Left to right: Madam Justice Andromache Karakatsanis; Manraj Rai of the University of Toronto; Osgoode Dean Patrick Monahan; and Gurminder Singh of the University of Toronto. Rai and Singh tied for third place in the Osgoode Cup Undergraduate Mooting Competition.

Top six oralists in the Osgoode Cup were, left to right: Domenic Bianchi of York, Ali Ayoub of York, Daniel Vertlieb of Queen’s, Osgoode Dean Patrick Monahan, Navdeep Gill of York, Jeff Culp of Carleton, and Dihim Emami of the University of Toronto.