First-Year Witness Examination
For the eleventh consecutive year, the LSS brings you the First-Year Witness Examination Competition. The problems are pitched at a level that is accessible to first-years and there is a strong emphasis on helping teams improve round to round.
Each team is guaranteed to take part in at least three rounds, with the Grand Finalists competing in a total of 6 witness examinations across the year. There is no better way of getting experience as a first-year than through the 2024 First-Year Witness Examination Competition.
Competition Details
Teams must consist of a Barrister and a Witness. Team members may rotate positions during the course of the competition so that both members get a chance to compete in each role. This year we had added a small section for the Witness to also be scored!
Time commitment: For ALL competitors, the problem is released 48 hours prior to your competition. As witness examination is based on distinct case theories from the prosecution and defence, expect to spend a few hours reading the problem, formulating a case theory, and preparing questions and answers for the examination.
Team size: 2 members
Number of rounds: 6
Semester 1 Schedule: Wednesdays and Thursdays
Week 3: 13/03 and 14/03
Week 5: 27/03 and 28/03
Week 7: 17/04 and 18/04
Semester 2 Schedule: Wednesdays
Week 2: 31/07 | Quarter-Final
Week 5: 21/08 | Semi-Final
Week 7: 04/09 | Grand-Final
Attire: Business
Delivery: All internal competitions in 2024 will follow an in-person format.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact David Lind and Noyonika Banerjee at firstyearwitness@mulss.com.
Documents & Recordings
2024 Competitor Training Workshop Recording - Click here to download.
2024 Competitor Training Workshop Slides - Click here to download.
2024 Competitor Guidebook - Click here to download.
2024 Judging Guidebook - Click here to download.
2024 Scoresheet - Click here to download.
2023 Results
Winners – David Lind and Daniel Kabir
Runners Up – Yuwei Xu and Eun Young Hwang
Congratulations to David Lind and Daniel Kabir for winning the 2023 First Year Witness Examination Competition.
Congratulations to Yuwei Xu and Eun Young Hwang who were the runners up of the competition.
Thank you to our Co-opts Jamie Oslington and Daisy Clarke and thank you to all those who participated in 2023.
Past winners
2023 – David Lind and Daniel Kabir
2022 – Jamie Oslington and Daisy Clarke
2021 – Aaron Low and Benji Batten
2020 – Janice Chan and Shruti Sudarsan
2019 – Alyssa Kim and Yuandong Qin
2018 – Dave Johnson and Bodhi Shribman
2017 – Sean Carr and Jessie Li
2016 – Elif Sekercioglu and Jacob Rodrigo
2015 – Caitlin O’Neil and Madeline Close
2014 – Finn Douglas and Esther Faine-Vallantin