Moots


Trial moots give students vital experience perfecting the analytical, research and writing skills they will need to practice law.  The Advocates’ Society is honoured to administer two of Canada’s leading trial moots, offering Canadian law students the chance to formulate arguments and present their cases in front of distinguished members of the bench and bar. 
 

The Sopinka Cup

The Honourable Justice John Sopinka was a multi-talented person. An outstanding lawyer, teacher, author, expert in law of evidence, concert violinist and played for the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL, he became one of Canada’s foremost trial and appellate advocates. He was counsel in many high-profile and renowned cases, and one of the few lawyers to be appointed directly from practice to the Supreme Court of Canada, where he quickly established himself as one of the country’s most distinguished judges.

Following his untimely death in November 1997, The American College of Trial Lawyers honoured its former member by joining his family, colleagues and associates to develop the annual Sopinka Cup competition, inaugurated in 1999 as the national trial advocacy competition for Canadian law schools. A fund created with generous donations from the American College, law firms, former associates and friends across Canada provides annual financial support. The Advocates’ Society assumed the role of competition administrator in 2003.

Congratulations to the winning teams of the 2022 Sopinka Cup:

Best opening: Mark Browne – University of New Brunswick
Best closing: Julie Grivel – University of Alberta
Best examination-in-chief: Benjamin Charlebois – Western University
Best cross-examination: Jenna Bragg – University of Saskatchewan
Best overall advocate: Mark Browne – University of New Brunswick
First place: University of Ottawa (Civil Law French)
Second place: University of Saskatchewan
Third place: University of New Brunswick

The Arnup Cup

The Arnup Cup is an annual trial advocacy competition for Ontario law schools, organized by The Advocates’ Society and generously sponsored by WeirFoulds LLP. The Cup bears the name of the Honourable John D. Arnup, O.C., Q.C., who for many years sat as a distinguished member of the Court of Appeal for Ontario following a career as one of Canada’s finest litigation counsel.

First held in 1988, the Arnup Cup has increased in prominence over the years. Teams from each of Ontario’s law schools participate in trials held in a Toronto courtroom and presided over by judges of the Superior Court of Justice. Senior members of The Advocates’ Society act as assessors. The teams vie for the right to represent the province in the prestigious Sopinka Cup, Canada’s national trial advocacy competition held annually in Ottawa.

Congratulations to the winning teams of the 2023 Arnup Cup:


First Place:
From: Western University
Danielle Lacasse (Coach)
Meghan Hawa (Student)
Nassima Kaddoura (Student)
Owen Bourrie (Alternate)
Morgan Kearns (Alternate)

Second Place:
From: University of Toronto
Corie Langdon (Coach)
Emily Marrocco (Coach)
Royland Moriah (Coach)
Beverley Richards (Coach)
Maia Caramanna (Student)
Tom Russell (Student)