National Law Student Triathlon

Saturday 30 April/Sunday 1 May 2022

The inaugural National Law Student Triathlon, hosted by Kent Law School in association with Thomson Reuters, will be held as an in-person competition at the University of Kent’s Canterbury campus.

We will all be aware of various national competitions that test different skills in mooting, negotiation, mediation, client interviewing and mock trial advocacy. This unique competition aims to be the toughest yet.

In it, students will have to demonstrate their skills in not one, not two but THREE law student skills. In this competition, teams of two students per institution will compete in:

  • a NEGOTIATION
  • a piece of FIRST INSTANCE ADVOCACY
  • and a MOOT. 

The problem scenario is the same throughout and teams represent the same side at all stages, but they will have to demonstrate their abilities in all three skills sets.

The event will take place over a residential weekend. We are particularly encouraging students who have not had much experience in the above skill sets to participate.  We are also encouraging law schools to enter students who are not from traditional backgrounds and who aspire to a career in the legal profession.

Our judging panels will be made up of practitioners and retired judges who will be giving up their time and passing on their knowledge and expertise.

During the weekend there will also be workshops on advocacy and negotiation as well as talks on how to build up your CV. In the evening there will also be a special exhibition mock trial.

Competition prizes

The team of two with the highest combined score over the course of the three exercises will be declared the winners.

For the winners, there will be:

  • a cash prize of £250 each
  • PLUS a personal half-day advocacy training session with Bernard Richmond QC at Middle Temple
  • The winning law school will also receive a Visiting Advocacy Session from Bernard Richmond QC.

Other prizes include:

  • two days marshalling with HHJ Scarrett QC at Canterbury Crown Court
  • a one-to-one coffee and career chat with a partner of a leading law firm
  • shadowing experiences with barristers
  • plus more besides!

Entering such an exciting tournament will do wonders for everyone’s CVs and we hope that this competition will become one of the most important law student events of the annual calendar.

A moot at Kent in our replica courtroom

Competition entry criteria

  • At this stage, the Competition shall be open to not more than one team from each participating teaching institution
  • Where an institution has more than one campus, only one team may enter the competition
  • Each team shall consist of two law students, who must be registered as such with the teaching institution they represent
  • Only undergraduate law students (including those on senior status programmes), are eligible to take part. (No GDL students or LLM students please)
  • If there are additional places still available after the closing date, then we will invite participating teaching institutions to put forward a second team if they wish.

Entry fee

The fee for entry is £150 per team of two law students. This includes:

  • Entry to the competition
  • Single accommodation in an ensuite room (Beckett Court) on the Saturday night
  • a packed lunch on Saturday
  • tea, coffee and light refreshments throughout the day
  • a two-course dinner, drinks at the exhibition show trial
  • and breakfast before departing on the Sunday morning.

How to enter

The closing date for entries is Friday 10 December 2021 – it is FIRST come FIRST SERVED – so please get your applications in early.

  1. Download and complete the entry form
  2. Pay the £150 via this portal: Team Place (2 students) at the KLS-Thomson Reuters National Law Student Triathlon | University of Kent
  3. At the time of entry, you do not need to know the identities of your student competitors. This information must be provided by 25 February 2022.  However, your entry will not be confirmed until you pay the entrance fee. Please note that once paid the entrance fee is non-refundable (unless the competition is cancelled).

Contact us

If you have any questions, please contact Darren Weir, Director of Lawyering Skills: d.weir@kent.ac.uk