Student Societies and Activities

2TG - Max Linton

The Times 2TG National Moot Competition was without a doubt the most challenging yet most rewarding moot I have done to date. 

 After being on the Bar Society Committee together, last June I asked Will if he would be interested in taking part in The Times 2TG Moot Competition. This meant we had just a few days to draft a skeleton argument for the first round of the moot, which focused on whether the fall of a 16th century gargoyle constituted a dangerous state of affairs. We successfully advanced to rounds 2 and 3 which was held virtually online.  

This was perhaps the most hectic part of the competition, yet also the funniest to look back on now. I was working as a Kitchen Porter at the time and had to leave for work straight after the rounds. This meant I had to wear my safety boots and uniform underneath my suit. Will was away visiting his dad in Italy and was wearing his dad’s shirt so there were questionable outfit choices from both of us! Nevertheless, Will and I beat teams from Oxford and Cambridge respectively to advance to the quarterfinals.  

This was where the fun really began and was personally my favourite round. It concerned several claims for psychiatric harm arising out of a motorcycle accident. Will and I formed creative arguments and were able to anticipate and counter our opponent’s submission. The judge, Howard Palmer KC, commended our performance, particularly Will’s unique policy arguments and my use of persuasive analogies. Afterwards, we had the opportunity to network with other competitors and barristers from 2TG which was a unique experience in and of itself.  

This brought us to the semi-finals, where we appeared before Lord Justice Peter Fraser in the Royal Courts of Justice. Lord Justice Fraser was unforgiving with his judicial interventions, asking us probing questions which really tested the core of both our argument’s. Unfortunately, Will and I just missed out on the finals but Lord Justice Fraser emphasised that we both responded well to his tough questions. The experience was invaluable and one that I won’t forget in a long time.  

I think the fact that Will and I made it this far in the competition, at this stage in our training, is a testament to the teaching at Newcastle Law School. I am particularly grateful to Dr Christine Beuermann and Judge Philip Kramer for the coaching they provided throughout the competition. Without them, I am sure that we would not have beaten students and graduates from institutions like the Inns of Court College of Advocacy, Oxford, Cambridge, and St. Andrews. I would thoroughly recommend The Times 2TG Moot to any current student at Newcastle Law School! 

2TG - Will Torrens

Taking part in the Times 2 Temple Gardens Mooting Competition was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my degree at Newcastle University. The competition was a knock-out style moot, attracting over 100 teams across the country. Reaching the semi-finals after 5 rounds of knock-out mooting, and finishing among the top 4 teams in the competition, was an outcome I had never anticipated. 

This all started back in May 2025, Max Linton (my partner throughout the competition), approached me with the details of the first round and asked if I would like to enter with him, I agreed. The first round required the submission of a written skeleton argument. The judges selected the top skeleton arguments to progress to the second round. 

The second and third rounds were held online on the same day in July 2025. Which, annoyingly, at the time I was visiting my dad in Italy, and because I hadn’t expected to make it to the 2nd round, I didn’t pack a shirt or tie in my luggage. Meaning, on the day of the moot, I argued from an apartment in rural Italy, in 35-degree heat, wearing my dad’s oversized linen shirt, sleeves rolled up, no tie, and no air conditioning. By the end of the day I was drenched in sweat but somehow, we progressed through! 

In October, the quarter finals were held in 2 Temple Gardens chambers in London, which was a great opportunity to meet the members of 2TG. The moot went smoothly and Howard Palmer KC selected our team to progress to the semi-finals. 

The final stage of Max and I’s journey in the competition happened in November 2025. The semi-final was being held in the Royal Courts of Justice in London. 2TG had organised for the moot to take place in a Court of Appeal in front of Lord Justice Fraser. We had to prepare 10-minutes of oral submissions each, and the clock would not stop for judicial intervention. I mention that point because Lord Justice Fraser did not hold back with his sharp questions cutting to the core of our arguments. He was incredibly knowledgeable with the area of law and felt no remorse challenging our knowledge. Thankfully, Max and I were well prepared for the difficult questions, and although it was a close decision Lord Justice Fraser sent our opponents through to the Final (to be held in March 2026). 

The entire competition was run smoothly and demonstrated 2TG’s commitment to the aspiring generation of barristers. I am particularly grateful to Professor Philip Kramer, whose guidance in refining our legal strategy before the semi-final round was invaluable. As well as Samantha Ryan and the Newcastle Law School as a whole, who were willing to support us throughout the entire competition. 

I thoroughly recommend more people push themselves beyond just their degree, I am a much more confident mooter having taken part in this competition and my choice to become a barrister was solidified.