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MARL5120 - Maritime Law in practice: Mock Trial

Course content

The mock trial is a practical part of the Master of Maritime Law program. The students are divided into two groups – for the plaintiff and for the defendant – in a trial. The groups are given a text containing a dispute to be solved. The legal issues are within the topics taught in the two maritime law courses, but a more in depth investigation into the issues will be required. During a month of preparation the two groups will write statements of claim and defense and points of claim and defense. Two Norwegian Law firms function as coaches to help with procedural and formal matters. All legal issues will be handled by the students. The course ends with a main hearing where the students argue their case before a tribunal of three judges.

Learning outcomes

You will learn to perform as an attorney under a trial. This includes knowledge about how to write the legal statements involved, investigation of legal sources, and how the main hearing is structured and performed. Further, it includes ability to perform an in depth analysis of the legal issues involved in a dispute and to argue a case before a tribunal. The main goal is to achieve ability to give a convincing legal argumentation for a submission orally to the tribunal.

Admission

Admission is only open for students enrolled in the L.L.M. Maritime Law (master's - 1 1/2 years)

The examination in this course is not available for external candidates. Only students admitted to the course may sit for the examination.

Prerequisites

Recommended prior knowledge

Recommended prerequisites: Passed exam in the two courses JUS5401 - Maritime Law - Contracts and JUS5402 - Maritime Law: Liability and Insurance

Teaching

The teaching will be in form of group seminars. There will be an information meeting/lecture for the whole LLM class. After, the group is divided into two teams and each team will be coached by lawyers from two different Law firms. The groups will in addition receive guidance from lecturers at the Institute.

Teaching takes place throughout the semester.

Criteria for access to teaching resources

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, contingent on available capacity.

Exam information

The final grade consists of two parts; a group work in the form of a written assignment and an oral hearing.
The assignment will consist of legal briefs and judicial decisions.

Students in a team who fail or do not deliver the assignment will not be allowed to take the oral exam.
The oral presentation takes place at a full day main hearing before a tribunal of three judges.

Oral hearing will last for approx 3 hours per team, 15 min for each student.

Language of examination

English

Assessment and grading

Students are awarded either a passing or a failing grade. Read more about the grading system .

Explanations and appeals

Students can request an explanation of their grades, and can also appeal against their grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals

Possibility of make-up exams and re-takes

You can usually resit an exam, but the conditions depend on whether you had a valid reason for absence from the regular exam. Read more about resitting an exam .

Exam options for students with special needs

Students may apply for access to alternative exam resources or exam forms on the basis of chronic illness and/or special needs that create a marked disadvantage to other students in the exam situation. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.

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