Read the case carefully again.

Read the rules carefully again.

Respect yourself: get enough sleep and eat properly.

Be sure to know whether your team is going to prepare a pleading as an Advocate General or a Commission Representative.

15 minutes are not enough time to explain exotic legal points, SO KEEP IT SIMPLE.

Be ready to be massively interrupted by judges during your oral arguments. The ELMC Rules & Executive Secretaries will encourage the Bench to pose several questions during your pleadings, interrupting your pleading presentation.

Try to make a plan for your oral arguments that lasts about 8-12 minutes, if you officially have 15.

Do yourselves (and the judges) a favour and learn the basics of rhetoric.

Make your presentation vivid and interesting to hear.

If you were a judge, what would you expect a pleading to be?

Be sure to do repeated rehearsals in the weeks up to the competition.

Try filming the rehearsals and see the film. You will learn, laugh, and get memories to last a lifetime.

Know your oral pleadings by heart – if your coach wakes you in the middle of the night you should go: “Madam OR Mister President, honoured members of the Court……..”.

You have to convince Judges that might not share your view of the world, SO KEEP IT SIMPLE.

Know the fundamental rules of EU Law – the judges love to pose questions about them.

Have a plan B prepared if the time is running out.

Remember that you are an “anonymous” representative of your University and your Country, so behave!

Do not forget your oral pleadings at home or at your hotel ( but if you do, it should not matter, as you know the substance of your oral pleadings by heart don’t you ?).

Dress as you would for a real Court hearing. Formal clothing is very appreciated by the judges. The ladies should dress conservatively and the gentlemen should wear a business suit and tie in respect to the Court.

KEEP IT SIMPLE.

Remember that the Moot Court is about meeting and competing – so remember to have a good time.

You should address the Bench politely, and in the following manner:

A) When starting a pleading, say: “Mr. / Madam President, honoured Members of the Court, dear colleagues…”
B) When talking directly with one Judge: “Your Lordship, Judge, President, ….”.

You should always refer to your opponents with respect, and in the following manner:

A) “My learned colleague” / “My learned Friend”
B) “The honourable representative of the Applicant / Defendant / Commission”
C) “His excellency the Advocate General / the Honoured Advocate General”

Please avoid the following mistakes:

Try to avoid mistakes while addressing the Bench. Addressing the Bench as “your warships” is NOT a good idea.

Do not interrupt a Judge while she or he is speaking.