Northumbria Law student takes top prize in India

A Northumbria Law School student has demonstrated her debating and advocacy skills by being named Best Overall Speaker at a highly prestigious international mooting competition.

Final year MLaw Exempting Bar student Natasha Nicholson won the stand-out award at the K.K. Luthra Memorial Moot Court held annually at the Campus Law Centre in Delhi University, India. The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland was competing as part of a team with fellow Northumbria law students Luke Stubbs and Christa Swan. They were up against 72 other top law colleges and universities from India and around the world, discussing a range of topics on international criminal law. Specifically, international immunity laws for people in overseas embassies and admissibility of evidence in trials such as CCTV footage and confessions.

While they did not progress in the team event Natasha was delighted to be named Best Overall Speaker – although as she explains she nearly missed the awards ceremony. “As we didn’t get through the preliminary rounds as a team we were taking the opportunity to explore Delhi when I received a call that I had actually won the best speaker of the whole competition. I was very taken aback but happily surprised, especially as there were about 300 other students competing,” she said.

Natasha believes attending mooting competitions are a highly valuable learning experience and she is appreciative of the support provided by Northumbria Law School in preparing for and taking part in them.

She added: “This was my third international competition and while I was nervous about public speaking in my first one, I have definitely grown in confidence in debating and answering judicial interventions. They also help in developing research skills as the preparation can be quite intense.  In addition, events like this in India are fantastic networking opportunities where you can build up valuable contacts for future career opportunities.

“Northumbria Law School clearly recognise how these competitions can help you develop your advocacy and oral argument skills – I know not all universities do the same. Being able to visit India, and to be shown around by fellow students from Delhi University was an unforgettable experience.”

The K.K. Luthra Memorial Moot Court was started in 2005 in the memory of late Senior Advocate Mr. K.K. Luthra. It is the only international criminal law moot court held in India and has seen participation from top law colleges in India and abroad.