12-02-2025
Taunton college mooting team wins regional mock trial competition
A Taunton college's mooting team has been crowned winners of a regional competition.
The Richard Huish College mooting team, made up of 16 students and two staff members, won the South West regional heat of the Bar Mock Trial competition in Plymouth on Saturday, January 25.
They won all three of their rounds against other schools and colleges.
This is the first time the college has reached the national finals, having only introduced mooting last year.
The team will now compete in the national finals at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Saturday, March 22.
The students spent months preparing two cases, R v Hinton and R v Speed, in their newly-built mock courtroom.
They were guided by law teacher Rob Durdin and law course manager Rowena Mudge, and received coaching from guest barristers.
The competition was an all-day event that started with a 7am departure to Plymouth.
The team acted as the defence in two rounds and the prosecution in one, securing a unanimous jury verdict in their favour each time.
Their performances were praised by the judge, a practising barrister, who said the standard was "extremely high".
Rowena and Rob said: "We are over the moon with the engagement and phenomenal effort of our students.
"Watching them perform and ultimately win was the icing on the cake.
"We couldn't be prouder, bring on the finals."
As the team prepares for the national finals, they will have the support of the entire Huish community who will eagerly await the outcome.
