From left to right: Sharafidean Al-Aryan, Gabriel Di Bert, Paul Garber, Francois Akoa.
Concordia students are proving that they don’t need a law school to excel in the courtroom.
In less than two months, members of the Concordia Moot Law Society (CMLS) captured gold at two of Canada’s flagship national moot court competitions: the Capital Cup, hosted by Carleton University, and the Centre Block Cup at the University of Ottawa.
The achievement is striking not only because of the back-to-back wins, but because Concordia does not have a standalone law program. Together, the students — many of whom are enrolled in the Minor in Law and Society — prevailed against teams from institutions with fully established law schools, including McGill University, the University of Toronto and Queen's University.
At the Capital Cup, Concordia secured first place overall. English Literature student and CMLS co-president Paul Garber was ranked first among all oralists in the competition, while Liberal Arts student and CMLS co-president Gabriel Di Bert placed third.
The success continued at the Centre Block Cup, where the Concordia team again finished first overall, with Garber, earning the distinction of top-ranked oralist.
“I’m always proud — but never surprised — to see our students punching well above their weight,” says Sarah Ghabrial, associate professor in the Department of History and director of the Law and Society program. “It’s a stunning achievement that a small team triumphed in both events. It’s really a testament to the type of close-knit, sustained, collaborative community that the program has helped cultivate over the years.”
Hands-on learning
The CMLS is an independent, student-led organization that offers undergraduates practical exposure to legal advocacy. Through competitive mooting, students simulate courtroom proceedings by arguing fictional cases — often modeled on proceedings of the Supreme Court of Canada — in front of panels acting as judges.
Participants research legal precedents, craft written arguments and present oral submissions, developing skills in public speaking, legal reasoning and critical analysis. Ghabrial explains that Law and Society alumni offer ongoing mentorship and support to the CMLS, as well other students in the minor.
“CMLS has helped me feel a lot more prepared for my law-focused courses, especially the assigned readings, legal documents and court cases,” says Mwenya Bwalya, Sociology and Law and Society student and vice-president of marketing at CMLS. “Over the years, the club has given members many opportunities to interact with the Law and Society Student Association, by attending their events and tabling at their annual wine and cheese.”
For students interested in law, the society offers an opportunity to gain hands-on legal experience at Concordia before graduate studies.
Learn more about the Minor in Law and Society at Concordia.