March 2010

For immediate release

Law students celebrate Shield success

Two Leeds Metropolitan University law students are celebrating winning the
grand final of the inaugural Beachcroft Mooting Shield, a competition which tests
students’ skills in drafting briefs and oral argument in a simulated court.

Graduate Diploma in Law students, Tom Royston and Stephen Dudley, were
rewarded with a week’s work placement at Beachcroft LLP, organisers of the
competition. The budding lawyers were accompanied by their coach, Natalie
Ledgard, senior lecturer at Leeds Law School. Tom also took home the prize for
Best Overall Mooter.

Mooting is an exercise that allows law students the opportunity to practice the
skills they will use in their new careers. It calls for the application of theoretical
legal knowledge to practical, focused situations.

Tom said: “It has been fantastic to be part of the competition, reach the finals
and absolutely incredible to have won. We’ve had a great amount of support from
our fellow students at Leeds Metropolitan and from our coach Natalie. Overall
we’ve had a great time and it’s fantastic to know that all our hard work has paid
off.”

Glenn Miller, a member of the judges panel, said: “The teams were first class.
This is an unusual type of competition and both teams have had to work
consistently over the last six months to get to the final. The standards and the
level of preparation shown were first class. This first regional mooting event has
been a huge success. The winning team from Leeds Metropolitan demonstrated
an exceptional talent for public speaking, confidently arguing complex legal
points. Mooting experience is very highly regarded by law firms as it results in
enhanced skills."

Coach Natalie Ledgard added: “The Beachcroft Shield has been a long
competition. Most of the external competitions work on a knock-out system so
the team have worked exceptionally hard. I am incredibly proud of their
dedication and polished performance and thrilled that it has all paid off. Their win
is thoroughly deserved.”

The Beachcroft Mooting Shield commenced in October 2009. The competition is

based on a group league format, with universities throughout Yorkshire and the
North-East competing against each other.

Ends

For further details please contact Carrie Braithwaite on 0113 812 3022 or
email c.braithwaite@leedsmet.ac.uk.

Notes for editors:

• Leeds Metropolitan University has 30,000 students and over 300,000

associate students through its partnerships with 24 colleges.
• The University has achieved its best ever Research Assessment
Exercise results. Sports-Related Studies is in the top 6 institutions in
the country with research rated at the highest levels of 4* and 3*.
• The University scored highly in the Times Higher's Student Experience
and was ranked 2nd in the category 'Good library and library opening
hours'.
• Leeds Metropolitan University won the 'Coaching Environment of the
Year’ award at the sports coach UK 2008 UK Coaching Awards and
 was announced as the home of the UK Centre for Coaching
Excellence.
• The University is home to The UK Centre for Coaching Excellence.
• Leeds Met Carnegie is the primary partner of rugby league’s Carnegie
Challenge Cup.
• The University’s new iconic Rose Bowl building was awarded Best
Commercial Property Development in the 2009 Yorkshire Property
Awards.