Witness Examination

McLaughlins Solicitors Witness Examination and Closing Remarks Competitions

The witness examination competition is the ultimate test of advocacy, legal knowledge and thinking and performing under pressure. The competition is for non first year students, who are given the statement of a witness which represents one side of a charge or claim (depending on whether the action is criminal or civil) and are asked to craft a case for them in court.

The student must make an opening statement to the court based on the information given to them, examine the witness to ensure that allt the information from the statement is elicited to the court and then must protect them as best they can during cross-examination by the opposing counsel. Students must also cross-examine the opposing witness, and make a concluding statement to the court.

The closing remarks competition is for students in their first year of law school. Based on a problem scenario which the students are given, they must craft closing remarks and present these to the court persuasively so that essentially, the last words the court hears are the most effective for their client.

Both competitions will take place this year in June.