HBKU College of Law Hosts Inaugural High School Moot Court Competition

Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) College of Law organized its first moot court competition for high school students in Qatar, inviting teams from six local schools to test their oral advocacy and legal reasoning skills against one another.

Titled “Q-Moot Mastermind 2024,” the competition saw the teams represent fictional parties in a hypothetical legal case borne from the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in semi-autonomous motor vehicles. Each team gained practical experience studying a case on a contemporary topic as well as researching and developing arguments based on their respective positions. They presented these arguments to several panels of judges across four rounds in simulated court proceedings.

The panels were composed of licensed legal practitioners, experts, and College of Law alumni. Among them were Catherine Martinez, Crowell & Moring, LLP; Dr. Barry Solaiman, Assistant Professor, College of Law, an established expert on tort law; and Dr. Khalid Al Kuwari, Lecturer, College of Law, who also works as a licensed lawyer in Qatar. Each panel evaluated each team’s arguments based on the quality of their legal reasoning and their oral advocacy capabilities, giving them a unique platform to refine key skills needed for a career in the field of law.

Amina Hasanzade, Marya Kabrit, Kinda Nashef and Celine Samer Fares of ACS International School Doha won the competition, with Fares claiming the title of Q-Moot Mastermind 2024’s “Outstanding Oralist”. Al Mayasa Al Wadaani, Mona Al Emadi, Ali Fawazi Al Ajji and Ilyas Ahmed of Qatar Academy took second place.

Reflecting on the competition, Ms. Shaheen Khadri, Faculty Advisor, Qatar Academy, said: “It was an incredibly enriching experience for our students, and we are immensely thankful to HBKU College of Law for its support and encouragement and look forward to future opportunities for collaboration and growth.” 

Prior to the contest, the College of Law held two training sessions for the student competitors, which highlighted relevant legal principles relating to gross negligence and practices in arguing before a court. These sessions also saw the College’s faculty give participants a wealth of insights on the field of law in Qatar and beyond, guiding them as they immersed themselves into this dynamic discipline.

Susan L. Karamanian, Dean, College of Law, reflected on the Q-Moot Mastermind, stating: “The competition opened a window into the legal world for high school students. They learned substantive legal principles, particularly in a dynamic area such as AI, and developed confidence in their speaking abilities.  We look forward to expanding the competition in 2025 and inviting even more competitors from across Qatar.”