March 6, 2008 The Bulletin Page 3 Step up to the school of moot Law students get real world experience when U of M hosts Laskin Moot BY DALE BARBOUR each team must make their submissions The Bulletin (both oral and written) in each official The 2008 Laskin Moot brought language. In fact, the liberal use made competitors from 19 law schools across of both official languages is part of what Canada to Winnipeg from Feb. 28 to makes the Laskin Moot competition March 1 to battle it out in the city’s Law unique. Courts building. For Gagné, a franco-Manitoban and It’s the first time the University of used to working in an English-language Manitoba has played host to the Laskin setting throughout most of her studies, Moot and for third-year law students it was a pleasure to head into court and Kathrine Basarab, Roxanne Gagné, work in her first language. Meghan Campbell, and Courtney St. “To compete at that level and argue Croix, it was a chance to test their legal the case in French was great,” Gagné skills in front of some of the toughest said. judges in the country. McGill University was the overall “We have 39 judges participating winner for the competition, but the U from all across Canada,” Faculty of Law of M team could claim bragging rights special events coordinator Rosa Muller of their own. said. “Most come back every year.” Their factum, a written document As with all moot courts, the cases produced by all four team members aren’t real. But the questions being Photo by Dale Barbour which includes both the appealand and considered still have legal merit. For From left, third-year law students Kathrine Basarab, Meghan Campbell, Roxanne respondent arguments, was ranked third the judges, it’s a chance to give back to Gagné and Courtney St. Croix were the home-team when the University of Manitoba at the competition. The respondent side the law schools that helped launch their hosted the Laskin Moot competition over Feb. 28 to March 1. of their factum, however, received the careers. It’s also a chance to meet the highest marks ever at the moot giving next generation of advocates. It’s the difference between the law and it isn’t real doesn’t mean the judges or all four team members something to The Laskin Moot is named in honour justice.” the students take it any less seriously. brag about. of the late Right Honourable Bora In the Laskin Moot students argue “It was fun. The judges asked a lot Laskin, Chief Justice of Canada from their cases directly to a three-judge panel. of questions. It felt like machine-gun fire OTHER MOOTS 1973 to 1984. It’s in its 23rd year and The judges are more than willing to give up there. One question after another,” The Laskin is one of many deals with constitutional law. The legal the students the gears if the arguments Campbell said. But she wouldn’t have competitions that the Faculty of Law question at the heart of this year’s aren’t sound. had it any other way. is involved in every year. Students also Laskin Moot focused on whether it was “The students “ Yo u h o p e compete in the Western Canadian Trial appropriate for the federal government get real world “The judges asked a lot of you get a judge Moot, the Wilson Moot, the Sopinka to discontinue funding for a minority- experience that that’s engaged. If Cup National Trial Moot, the Negotiation language preschool education program. the classroom just questions. It felt like machine-gun they’re not asking Moot and the Aboriginal Moot. Robson Each school entered four participants, can’t provide,” fire up there. One question after q u e s t i o n s , i t Hall has a solid reputation at national with two appellants acting on behalf McPherson said. another. But hope you get a judge means they’re not competitions, winning the Western of a fictitious English-language Quebec No question engaged.” Canadian Trial Moot 15 times in the past parent’s group and two respondents a b o u t i t , s a i d that’s engaged. If they’re not Part of the 40 years and the Sopinka Cup three times arguing the point from the government’s U of M student asking questions, it means they’re lesson from the in its nine year history. perspective. C o u r t n e y S t . not engaged.” moot court was Most recently, the Robson Hall Team Law professor Darcy McPherson Croix. Meghan Campbell, a l s o l e a r n i n g took home the top prize for written said it’s critical to nail down the legal “This gives how to structure advocacy at the national Wilson Moot argument, which meant students you a chance to Faculty of Law student a n a r g u m e n t . in Toronto, Feb. 22 to 23. The prize is had to spend weeks wading through argue in front of Students have up based on the cumulative score for the Canada’s constitutional law books to see a judge. It’s just not something you can to 22 minutes to argue their case. But, appellant’s and respondent’s factum for what’s required of the government and experience in the classroom,” St. Croix again, that’s assuming they won’t be each team. what’s been done in the past on similar said. That experience includes everything interrupted by judges looking to prick The team of Meaghan Daniel, Kevin questions. from dealing with real judges looking to holes in their statements. Westell, Maegan Richards, and Karen “But there is also what I would call penetrate and dissect an argument to “You know they’re going to Poetker was coached by Tony Kavanagh the emotional appeal,” McPherson said. just getting a feel for the chemistry of a interrupt,” Basarab said. “So you have to of Manitoba Justice and professor Debra “Ideally, you can lead a judge to do what courtroom. And the upside, of course, balance getting your argument across and Parkes. The award was presented to the they would choose to do even if they is that it is moot court, and if they fail fielding questions.” team by Justice Marshall Rothstein of the were not constrained by the law. You’re in their argument a client won’t have to One of the challenges of the Laskin Supreme Court of Canada, an alumnus arguing that this is the right thing to do. suffer the consequences. But the fact that Moot is that at least one member of of Robson Hall. Immunology grows The Immunology Research located on the fourth floor of the Apotex Facility at the University of Manitoba’s Centre at the Bannatyne Campus, the Faculty of Medicine will be expanded new facility will lead to the expansion and enhanced with a $1.6 million of existing and new research programs, contribution through the Winnipeg and to increased commercialization Partnership Agreement. The new facility from these programs. This will enable ������������������� will give students and researchers access the university’s immunology department to new technologies and increased to attract, train and retain the highly �������������������������������������������������� commercialization opportunities. qualified personnel required to support ������������������������������������������������� The announcement was made last the growing immunology and infectious ����������������� week by Vic Toews, president of the disease research cluster in Manitoba. Treasury Board, Marilyn Brick, MLA for “This new funding will further St. Norbert and deputy mayor Brenda advance the immunological research ������������������������������������������� Leipsic. conducted at the University of Manitoba,” ������������������������� “The Government of Canada said president Emőke Szathmáry. “It will March 28, 2008 is working to enhance Canada’s build upon the university’s excellent international reputation for research reputation in the area of immunology ��������� excellence and to strengthen scientific and infectious diseases, and enhance ���������������� expertise,” said Toews. “Today’s research and teaching opportunities for �������� announcement will enable researchers, faculty and students.” innovators and businesses to improve The department of immunology Canada’s productivity performance, was established in 1969 and is credited create high-quality jobs and enhance as the first immunology department in Canadians’ quality of life.” Canada. Currently the department has Advertise in the Bulletin The immunology department has 25 professors, of which six are on-site outgrown its current location in the professors located at the Basic Medical For details call 474 8111 Basic Medical Sciences Building. To be Sciences Building..