Competitions represent an integral and essential focus of the Blackstone Society, at the intersection of its educational and social activities. A balanced legal education exposes students to at least three elements: substantive legal principles, academic legal scholarship and practical legal skills. While each of these elements is central to all of Blackstone’s competitions, there is a particular emphasis on providing a forum for students to develop practical expertise. Equally important is the opportunity to interact with other students, academic staff, practitioners and judges in an environment that is both rewarding and enjoyable.

Through the support of the Law School, the generosity of sponsoring firms and the invaluable assistance of members of the legal profession in Western Australia, Blackstone is able to conduct seven internal competitions each year. Drawn from the group of over 350 students that participate in these internal events, Blackstone competitors are also able to represent UWA at a number of external competitions, notably the national championships held as part of the Australian Law Students’ Association Annual Asia-Pacific Conference. The Conference will be convened in Adelaide in 2010. Other external competitions in which UWA holds a stellar reputation include the Phillip C Jessup International Law Mooting Competition and the National Family Law Moot Competition.

Getting involved in competitions at Law School is not just a means of developing practical skills; it gives all law students an opportunity to become part of the long history and proud tradition of Blackstone competitions at UWA. With such a wide variety of competitions on offer throughout the year, for both individuals and teams, there is an opportunity for everyone to participate – if not as a competitor, then as an organiser, witness, client, judge’s associate or spectator. Volunteering for a support role is great fun, a means of meeting lots of new people, and is also a wonderful way of finding out what a competition is all about before taking on your Law School classmates as a competitor the following year.

To find out any more information about Blackstone competitions or to find out about the support roles available, email Blackstone’s Competitions Officers, Jessie Smith and Joey Leith, at competitions@blackstone.asn.au

2010 Blackstone Competitions

• Negotiation – sponsored by Allens Arthur Robinson
• Student Paper – sponsored by Blake Dawson
• Trial Advocacy – sponsored by Clayton Utz
• Client Interview – sponsored by Freehills
• Open Mooting – sponsored by Mallesons Stephen Jaques
• First Year Mooting – sponsored by Corrs Chambers Westgarth
• International Humanitarian Law Moot
• Civic Legal Memo Writing

Major External Competitions:

• National Family Law Moot
• Philip C. Jessup International Moot Competition

Blackstone Competitions Disqualification Policy

• Disqualification Policy

The Clayton Utz Competition Fund

In 2010, Clayton Utz are once again providing generous support in the form of our Competitions Fund which hopes to enable UWA Law students and Blackstone Members to take part in the many National and even International competitions on offer. Students will need to apply to the Blackstone Society to access the money in the fund.

The Corrs Chambers Westgarth Competitions Dinner

If you’ve been involved in Blackstone competitions in 2010, as a competitor, an organiser, a volunteer, or a consistent spectator, then make sure you get along to the Competitions Dinner. With prizes, wooden spoons and booze, there’s not much more you could want from an evening (except to win Open Mooting!). The dinner will be held some time in late Semester 2.

Keep an eye out for more information closer to the time, and sign up for a competition in the meantime!