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Roman Law Trial

Athina Dimopoulou, PhDAssistant Professor (History of Law)Office: 45, Akadimias str. (3rd floor)Mondays, 14:30-15:30E-mail: adimopoul@law.uoa.grhttp:users.uoa.gr~adimopoul/

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Credits & Workflow

3 Credit pointsWeekly meetings:

Week 1: Introduction to Roman Law Assignment: What is your country’s legal system relation to Roman Law?

(3-5 pages) Week 2: Case presentation, sources, bibliography, mooting principles

Assignment: Read the Case & mooting principles Week 3: Legal questions

Assignment: Read Hunter, select roles Week 4: Digest

Assignment: Read the Digest’s relevant chapters Week 5: Skeleton Arguments & Handout Week 6: Arguments Week 7: Mooting

3MOOT COURT

A moot court is an extracurricular activity at many law schools in wahich participants take part in simulated court proceedings, usually to include drafting briefs (or memorials) and participating in oral argument. The term derives from Anglo Saxon times, when a moot (gmot or emot) was a gathering of prominent men in a locality to discuss matters of local importance.

Moot court does not involve actual testimony by witnesses or the presentation of evidence, but is focused solely on the application of the law to a common set of evidentiary assumptions to which the competitors must be introduced.

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2 teams compete as lawyers for plaintiff and defendant

In a moot two teams of counsel attempt to persuade a judge of the strength of their case by reference to legal authority.

In a student moot the teams consist of two pairs of students representing appellant and respondent debating in a moot problem.

A moot problem is a predrafted factual situation in which a point or points of law are in dispute. The task of each team is to support the side of the argument with which it has been presented.

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Benefits

“…gaining mooting experience can have a positive impact on your future career.”

“Mooting may also help you to build confidence in public speaking, general research, and presentation skills.”

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MOOT CASE

The events of the case take place in the Roman Empire, in the 6th century A.D., under Emperor Justinian.

Civil Law Case.Each party files two legal remedies.

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Counsels

Counsel speak in the following order: 20 min:

Senior Counsel for the Appellant Junior Counsel for the Appellant

20 min: Senior Counsel for the

Respondent Junior Counsel for the

Respondent 3 min:

Rebut, Senior Counsel for the Appellant

Rebut, Junior Counsel for the Respondent

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Requirements

Students work in teams of four (4), one set of 2 for the Appellant, one set of 2 for the Defendant

Very good knowledge of English Public speaking skills Research & study of sourcesDrafting of written argumentsDrafting of sources’ handoutOral pleadings: final exam

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Judged upon

1. Knowledge of Law2. Adapting Law to the Facts of

the case3. Answering Questions4. Court Etiquette5. Time management