CALGARY – This past weekend, the Bennett Jones Cup in Health Law Advocacy took place in Calgary, between student teams from the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta law schools. The Honourable John C. (Jack) Major, C.C., Q.C., Madame Justice Jo'Anne Strekaf, and Mr. John Martland, Q.C., all former partners of Bennett Jones, presided over the Moot.
The issue addressed in the Moot was whether the prohibition of physician assisted suicide is a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
All participants ably advanced a difficult and complex legal argument in the face of rigorous questioning from the Bench. In the end, the University of Calgary prevailed and was awarded the Bennett Jones Cup for their over-all performance.
A $1,000 scholarship was awarded to the top oralist from each University – Brandon Rasula from the University of Calgary and Joachim Chau from the University of Alberta. The scholarships are sponsored annually by Valerie Prather (Calgary) and Rose Carter, Q.C. (Edmonton).
"I am honoured to be associated with this event", said Valerie Prather, a Partner with Bennett Jones in Calgary. "Strong oral advocacy skills are key to becoming a top litigator. Those skills cannot be learned from a book. Bennett Jones is proud to provide this platform for students to develop the practical advocacy skills required for them to become leading lawyers in the future."
A moot court is an extracurricular activity at many law schools in which participants take part in simulated court proceedings, which usually involves drafting briefs and participating in oral argument. The term derives from Anglo-Saxon times, when a moot (gmot or emot) was a gathering of prominent men in a locality to discuss matters of local importance. The modern activity differs from a mock trial, as moot court usually refers to a simulated appellate court or arbitral case.
The moot competition, held at the Calgary Courts Centre, was followed by a reception and awards ceremony at the Bennett Jones Calgary office.
Bennett Jones is one of Canada's premier business law firms and home to more than 380 lawyers and business advisors across eight offices. With exceptional experience in complex cross-border and international transactions, Bennett Jones is well equipped to advise foreign businesses and investors with Canadian ventures, and to connect Canadian businesses and investors with opportunities around the world.