Jersey College for Girls took the trophy at the inaugural Jersey Collas Crill Moot final.
Jess Dos Santos Hilario and Alexia Jennings were the ultimate winners in the dramatic final of the mock trial competition, which took place in the States’ Chambers on the evening of Monday 9 December.
Eight students progressed through three rounds to reach the final.
The students went head to head in a fictitious negligence case involving a novice taxi driver on his first day in St Helier, a hazardous road, his distraction at the wheel, and a series of collisions and injuries.
Jess and Alexia competed against Hayden Glaser and Charlie Le Lay from De La Salle College and Leila Pateman and Grace Kemble of JCG were up against Iona Downie and Ruby Robbins of Beaulieu Convent School.
The students presented their cases to a judging panel comprising a head judge, the Bailiff Sir Timothy Le Cocq KC, and two jurats, Collas Crill Partners Nuno Santos-Costa and Damian James. They were marked on a number of factors including their court etiquette, persuasiveness, clarity, body language and time-keeping.
The Moot adhered to all official court formalities, allowing the students to experience an authentic courtroom trial. Family, friends and teachers were invited to watch on from the viewing gallery, alongside the Collas Crill coaching team.
Jess and Alexia were announced as the winners, with Leila and Grace, also of JCG, taking second place.
Jonathan Barham, Collas Crill Partner, said: “All the finalists performed brilliantly and handled some particularly tough questions from the Bailiff. I was impressed how they rose to the challenge and how eloquent they were in their responses. It was clear to everyone in the States’ Chambers how seriously the students had taken the Moot, and how much preparation they had done for the final. My congratulations go to Jess and Alexia for being our first Jersey Moot winners and a huge well done to Ruby, Iona, Charlie, Hayden, Leila and Grace.
“The Moot is a fully immersive experience for the students throughout the competition. Staging the Moot final in the States’ Chambers took it to another level. I would like to thank the Bailiff Sir Timothy Le Cocq KC, for judging the final and for allowing us to stage it in the States’ Chambers.”
The winners, Jess and Alexia, were presented with the Collas Crill Moot shield to take back to their school, as well as individual trophies and two weeks’ paid work experience at Collas Crill.
Around 60 sixth form students from Hautlieu, De La Salle, JCG, Victoria College and Beaulieu took part in the Jersey competition.
“Organising the Moot has been a real team effort. Our trainees and junior lawyers coordinated all the training and coaching sessions, liaised with all the schools, mentored the students and organised the final. I would like to thank them all – especially Sabrina de Gouveia and Ollie Terry – for ensuring the inaugural Jersey Moot went as smoothly as it did,” said Jonathan.
Pictured: Left to right – Runners up JCG’s Grace Kemble and Leila Pateman, Damian James (Collas Crill), Greffier Rebecca Morley-Kirk, Bailiff Sir Timothy Le Cocq, winners JSG’s Jess Dos Santos Hilario and Alexia Jennings, Nuno Santos-Costa (Collas Crill)
