This year’s Brimacombe Moot sees record number of students

This year’s competitive Brimacombe Moot drew in a record number of students who argued their cases in the practice courtroom. 

The annual competition ran Sept. 26 – 29 and is an important part of the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Law’s curriculum. The moot determines which students will represent the U of A at regional and national moot competitions in the upcoming season.

This year drew in 76 applicants, higher than the previous record of 75 in 2021. Chiara Concini, a second year student in the U of A’s Faculty of Law, was named the winner of the event. She says that her win is particularly rewarding because of all the skilled mooters at the U of A.

“It's really exciting. There are so many talented mooters, and the U of A’s program is really strong,” she says. “It means a lot.”

In her first year, Concini was also part of a team who won the U of A’s Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin Moot. This moot had students argue in a case involving a Mr. Big operation — in which undercover police attempt to get a confession in a cold case — and a manslaughter acquittal. This case was also the topic of this year’s Brimacombe Moot.

While the subject of this year’s Brimacombe Moot might have seemed familiar to some of the competitors, the students also had to argue their cases in front of two judges: one in-person, and the other who joined in over video chat. 

 “They were thrown a curve ball at the last minute. They had to be adaptive. They all responded brilliantly,” says Christopher Samuel, Director of Legal Research and Writing at the Faculty of Law. 

Samuels adds that success in the Brimacombe Moot is often a “good sign in terms of what’s in store for these students.”

"The winners performed well above what you'd expect of a law student. Their advocacy would not have looked out of place at our actual Court of Appeal,” Samuel says.

Second-year law student Christian Gomes was the runner-up for the moot. He recalls that his ranking took him by surprise. Rather than expecting second place, he was viewing Brimacombe more as a tryout for future moots.

“I woke up late and had a bunch of texts on my phone,” he says, laughing. “So, I was definitely, definitely surprised.”

Gomes became interested in law while he was a VP with the student association of his undergraduate university, located in British Columbia. In particular, he felt that learning about the law would help him better advocate for people who need help. 

Going forward, Gomes hopes to pursue a career in labour and employment law. Both his studies at the Faculty of Law and the Brimacombe Moot are great stepping stones toward this goal. 

“I think the best way to learn is by actually doing it,” he says. 

Meanwhile, Concini hopes to pursue a career in criminal law — she’s particularly interested in becoming a defence lawyer at the moment.

This stems from her time studying at Faculté Saint-Jean, where she was exposed to many concepts about language rights issues. She says that one of the main areas where language rights come up is in criminal law. Part of this is because, for instance, an accused has the right to be tried in the official language of their choice. 

She also recalls being drawn to study law while working at the Alberta Legislature in high school. “Being close to where Albertan laws were made was really interesting to me,” she says. 

Concini adds that her time spent at the U of A is an asset, particularly considering the support she’s seen from her professors and peers, and the depth of feedback she’s received during moots.

“Being surrounded by professors and students who are cheering you on into the future as you move through school really makes a difference,” she says.

“I love school so much, and I feel really lucky to be able to go to the U of A because of all the opportunities and the community.”