Moot Court is a method of teaching law and legal skills that requires students to analyse and argue both sides of a hypothetical legal issue using procedures modeled after those employed in state and federal appellate courts. It is an extracurricular activity at many law schools in which participants take part in simulated court proceedings, usually to include drafting briefs and participating in oral argument. In order to become a successful lawyer it is essential for a student to know how to apply the law he has learnt to a fact situation and to have awareness of the rules and the etiquettes of the Court. Moot court requirements vary from law school to law school, with most schools mandating that students participate at least once in a moot court argument before receiving their law degree. Many law schools offer a series of moot court opportunities for students of differing skill levels and legal interests. Students typically spend a semester researching and writing the memorials, as well as practicing their oral arguments. Whereas domestic moot court competitions tend to focus on municipal law, regional and international moot competitions tend to focus on subjects such as public international law, international human rights law, and international humanitarian law. The activity is competitive by nature, and students vie for honors within their school and in regional and national moot court competitions featuring teams of students from several law schools.

‘Moot Court competitions’ are like the laboratories of law schools where theoretical knowledge is tested in real life situations. Realizing this, the Bar Council of India has rightly included ‘Moot Courts, Observation of Trial, Pre-Trial Preparations and Internship’ as one of the subjects to be taught in the last semester for both three and five year law degree courses. The ‘Moot Court competitions’ on the one hand facilitating continuous training to the students and on the other hand providing an opportunity to participate in and to test the mettle of the future lawyers of the country.

In this book, we have covered the topics like Planning and organizing moot courts, pre-trial preparations, observation of trial proceedings in civil and criminal matters, interviewing techniques and viva voce examination covering these aspects. This book provides a short cut to the students of the 3/5 year law degree course to enable them to get a broad understanding of the topics that would be covered under the revised syllabi with effect from the academic year 2009-2010. 

We owe our gratitude to Mr. D. Durga Prasad, LL.B, FCS, for his personal attention, inputs and technical support. Our thanks are also due to Mr. M.Venkateswarlu for his wholehearted and efficient secretarial support in bringing out this Book.