The basic manners of the Moot Court Competition.

(From starting till end)

1) In starting to approach the dias

“The counsel seeks permission to approach the dias.” “Much Obliged”

2) Introduction

“This is counsel no. 1 appearing on behalf of the Petitioners in the case of X v. Y” “I, as counsel no. 1
would be dealing with the issues no. 1 and 2, while my co-counsel would be dealing with the issues no. 3
and 4”

3) Facts of the case

“Shall the counsel proceed with the facts of the case or come directly to the issues?”

(Depending upon the answer)

If issues, then refer point 4, if facts, then –

“The facts of the case are so and so” (NEVER TAKE MORE THAN 30 SECONDS TO ELABORATE THE WHOLE
FACT SHEET. MAKE IT AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE, ONLY COVER THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT)

“If the honorable bench is well versed with the facts, the counsel would like to move to the arguments”

4) Arguments

“Your honor, our first issue is so and so”

If you are not able to complete your speech, then refer point 3 of Miscellaneous Manners.

When mooter 2 comes, his role is as same as mooter 1, except that he does not have to ask Judges,
whether they want to hear the facts or not. That work is already done by the mooter 1.

“This is counsel no. 2 appearing on behalf of the Petitioners in the case of X v. Y” “I, as counsel no. 2
would be dealing with the issues no. 3 and 4, while my co-counsel has already dealt with the issues no. 3
and 4”

Also, if the mooter 1 has not completed his speech, it is the duty of mooter 2 to start it from the point,
mooter 1 left it. However, it is upon the judge’s discretion; if they want, they can ask mooter 2 to come
directly to his points also, or can even ask mooter 1’s left material or points.

5) Prayer
After mooter 2 completes his speech, prayer comes. Please note that when the turn of prayer comes,
each and every member of your team must stand up, i.e. including the mooter 1 and the researcher.
In the prayer, you can either say it in the format of “To Direct”, “To Hold”, “To Do” etc or you can even
directly say what you have written in the prayer in your memorial. After saying all your points, also say
“Any other order which the bench may feel correct in the matter concerned”

6) Conclusion

After submitting your prayer, conclude by saying “It was indeed a pleasure to plead in front of the
Honorable bench” and silently walk back to your seat. (MOOTER 1 shall also do the same, when his
speech or time may ends)

(AND THEN THE SAME WHOLE PROCEDURE HAS TO BE REPEATED BY RESPONDENT’S SIDE. Please note
that it is not mandatory for respondent side to ask the judge if they want to hear the facts as it has
already been dealt by first speaker of petitioners, but even if you may ask the judge whether they want
to hear it, the same way petitioners did, it won’t harm your case. So, it is optional, not mandatory for
the respondents, but it is very much mandatory for the first speaker of the petitioners)

Miscellaneous MANNERS

1) Always say “Much Obliged Your Honor” as many times as judge asks you anything or even tells
you anything.
2) If the judge has got you involved in some question for a really long time and you find that the
points which are yet to come in your speech are more important than the question concerned,
always feel free to say “Your honor, counsel would like to apologize and move forward with the
arguments” and then come to the more substantial part of your arguments.
Or, you can even say “My co-counsel will answer this”. Only when you are the mooter 1 and
next mooter 2 would be coming.
Or, you can even say “My researcher will provide the answer to it”. Please note that whether
researcher would get a chance to speak or not, is completely on the judge’s discretion, so do ask
the Judge first, if you want your researcher to come and speak on the dias.
3) If the time gets over, feel free to ask the judge for more time. “If the honorable bench permits,
counsel would like to have 2 more minutes for the sake of justice”
4) You can also use the words “Your lordship” in place of “Your Honor” or “Honorable Bench”, but
please note that most of the judges do not appreciate being addressed as “Your Lordship”
because sometime back, it was very strongly criticized in some important national case. Also, if
you will address at “Your Lordship” then you will have to make sure that the judge you are
referring to is a male judge and would have to change it to “Your ladyship” if the judge is a
female. Many a times, it becomes difficult to continuously changing it when the bench consists
of male and female judges. So, it would be better, if you will make just make it a gender neutral
term “Your Honor”, which you can use and practice either way. Also, it is more accepted and
appreciated than “Your Lordship” or “Your Ladyship”
5) Use of chits – Generally, in the intra competitions, chit passing are easily allowed. The other
speaker and the researcher can pass you chits as many times as you may get stuck. But please
note that though the judge does not deduct marks for speaking from chits, but overall, it does
create a bad impression on your presentation and you can lose marks on “Knowledge of law”
and “Presentation Skills”. So, try to use less and less chits. Only, when it is very important.
6) Compendium – Compendium is a document other than your memorial which contains the detail
version of the cases which you have mentioned in your memorial. It can also contain some acts,
bills, or any articles from authenticated sites. There are 2 ways to use a compendium. One way
is to submit it to the judges as soon as the first mooter comes. He submits it to the court master,
who further gives it to the judges. And then the speakers can direct the judges to the page
numbers of the compendium which they want the judge to refer to. Or you can also attach the
flags also known as Post it stickers on the compendium and write serial numbers on it and then
ask the judge to refer to the Flag No. so and so. Please note that it is better to already highlight
the exact points which you want the judge to see on that particular page. Highlight it with a
highlighter of the color yellow, fluorescent or green.
Or the second way,
Ask your researcher to be ready with compendium as many times as the chance comes in your
speech to direct the judges to some point and then he can open that exact page of your
compendium and give it to the court master who will further give it to the judges. But please
note that if you will be asking your researcher to always do this, then you will have to ask back
the compendium from the judges as many times as it would be required.

So, method 1 is much more appreciated, accepted and obviously more followed.

7) For respondents, as rebuttal, is not your right as per rules. But you can ask for sur-rebuttal in the
following manner. “Counsel would like to ask for sur-rebuttal in order to bring forth some more
points so that justice may prevail”. In most cases, Judges allow. If they may not, then you can
repeat the same and then say “Only for a minute”. Judge will allow. Also note that you have to
ask for sur-rebuttal as soon as the petitioner’s rebuttal gets over.
8) Please note that Judges can ask you from anywhere. So, well, also be prepared with the speech
of your other mooter. Know a brief about what it contains.