Advocacy
Faculty of Law
Oral advocacy at TRU Law
Oral advocacy is a defining feature of a TRU Law education. From the first year of the program through to graduation, students have access to a range of opportunities to develop the skills, confidence, and competitive experience needed to argue effectively in any legal forum.
Advocacy in first year
Every first-year student participates in a moot as part of the Legal Foundations course. Students research and write a factum – the written arguments submitted to a court – and then present oral arguments before a panel, often consisting of local lawyers and judges. This foundational experience introduces students to the full arc of advocacy early in their legal education.
Moot competitions
In second and third year, students can apply to compete in provincial, national, and international moot court competitions as three-credit elective courses. Moot teams are selected through a competitive process and are coached by experienced legal practitioners who provide guidance on both written and oral submissions. Most competitions take place in the winter semester, with preparation beginning in the fall.
TRU Law competes in the following moot competitions:
BC Law Schools Moot
The BC Law Schools Moot is a competition between the Peter A. Allard School of Law, UVic Law, and TRU Law. The moot generally focuses on a civil case, and is argued before sitting judges of the BC Supreme Court and the BC Court of Appeal. The team consists of 4 oralists + 1 researcher.
TRU Law placed first in 2015 and 2024.
Coaches
Bowman Tax Moot
The Bowman Tax Moot is a moot focused on tax issues. The moot takes place in Toronto, and is before practicing tax lawyers, and judges of the Tax Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal. The problem is typically based on an actual court decision. The team consists of 4 oralists + 1 researcher.
Coaches
Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Law Moot
The Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Law Moot focuses on issues of immigration, refugee, and citizenship law. The moot takes place in Toronto at the Federal Court. The team consists of 4 oralists + 1 researcher.
TRU Law had the second-place factum in 2025.
TRU Law placed second in 2024.
TRU Law placed first in 2023.
Coaches
Jessup International Law Moot
The Jessup International Law Moot focuses on international public law. It is one of the oldest moots, beginning in 1960. Roughly 700 law schools across 100 countries participate in the Jessup. The Canadian rounds of the Jessup take place in Ottawa, and in 2027, the international rounds will take place in Toronto. The team consists of 4 oralists + 1 researcher.
TRU Law won Top Applicant Memorial in 2022
TRU Law Advanced to the White and Case Advanced Rounds of the Jessup’s Global Rounds in 2021.
Coaches
Wilson Moot
The Wilson Moot addresses administrative and constitutional law issues. It focuses on issues of equality, and issues of particular concern to women and minority groups. The moot takes place in Toronto. The team consists of 4 oralists + 1 researcher.
TRU Law won First Place Facta in 2018, 2024, and 2025.
Coaches
MacIntyre Cup
The MacIntyre Cup is the Western Canadian round of the Sopinka Cup, which is a trial advocacy moot. The focus is generally on a criminal law trial. The top teams in the MacIntyre Cup proceed to the Sopinka Cup in Ottawa. The team consists of two members.
TRU Law won Top Opening in 2022.
TRU Law finished second in 2019, advancing to the Sopinka Cup.
TRU Law hosted the MacIntyre Cup in 2019 and 2026.
Coaches
Kawaskimhon Moot
The Kawaskimhon Moot focuses on Aboriginal and Indigenous legal issues. The word “Kawaskimhon” means “to speak with knowledge” in the Cree language. The moot is a negotiation, with teams representing a variety of parties (e.g., First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities, regional and national Indigenous organisations, government parties, and industry actors). The moot focuses on negotiation and consensus-building to resolve problems. The team is 4 members + 1 researcher.
TRU Law hosted the Kawaskimhon in 2024.
Coaches
National Family Law Negotiation Moot
The National Family Law Negotiation Moot focuses on negotiations related to family law disputes. The team is 4 members, who work in 2 teams of two.
TRU Law placed first in 2023 and 2026.
TRU Law students won top negotiator prizes in 2022 and 2026.
Coaches
Sports Law Arbitration Moot
The Sports Law Arbitration Moot (SLAM) is a global sports law moot. The first rounds of the moot are online, with the final round taking place in-person in Lausanne, Switzerland, the seat of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Coaches
Hockey Arbitration Competition of Canada
The Hockey Arbitration Competition of Canada (HACC) focuses on salary arbitration regarding professional hockey players. The competition takes place in Toronto.
TRU Law finished second in 2019 and 2023.
