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Student legal team wins argument

Monday 22 October 2007

Four law students from the University of Newcastle have argued their way into first place, winning a highly prestigious national law competition in Melbourne.

Peter Kembrey and Ben Bickford (counsel), and Sara Rayment and Leanne Mellor (instructing solicitors), won the 2007 National Family Law Mooting Competition before the Honorable Justice Baker in the Family Court of Australia, Melbourne, beating the team from the University of Tasmania. Sixteen teams from universities around Australia competed in the preliminary round.

The Newcastle team was assisted in its training by local barristers who attended the University of Newcastle Legal Centre, and gave advice and practical guidance on appeal advocacy over nine months of preparation. In Melbourne, the students were supported in court by barrister Renata Alexander, from the University's sister clinical law school at Monash University in Victoria.

Dr Colin James, solicitor and senior lecturer at the University of Newcastle Legal Centre, said the team earned the win.

"The team members have shown natural talent as well as great effort and skill in their preparation and training sessions that began in January," he said.