First-Year Witness Examination
For the twelfth consecutive year, the LSS brings you the First-Year Witness Examination Competition. The problems are pitched at a level that is accessible to first-years and there is a strong emphasis on helping teams improve round to round.
Each team is guaranteed to take part in at least three rounds, with the Grand Finalists competing in a total of 6 witness examinations across the year. There is no better way of getting experience as a first-year than through the 2025 First-Year Witness Examination Competition.
Competition Details
Teams must consist of a Barrister and a Witness. Team members may rotate positions during the course of the competition so that both members get a chance to compete in each role. This year we had added a small section for the Witness to also be scored!
Time commitment: For ALL competitors, the problem is released 48 hours prior to your competition. As witness examination is based on distinct case theories from the prosecution and defence, expect to spend a few hours reading the problem, formulating a case theory, and preparing questions and answers for the examination.
Team size: 2 members
Number of rounds: 6
Semester 1 Schedule: Wednesdays and Thursdays
Week 4: 26/03 and 27/03
Week 6: 09/04 and 10/04
Week 9: 07/05 and 08/05
Semester 2 Schedule: Wednesdays
Week 2: 07/08 | Quarter-Final
Week 6: 03/09 | Semi-Final
Week 8: 17/09 | Grand-Final
Attire: Business
Delivery: All internal competitions in 2025 will follow an in-person format.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Adi Venkat and Sothean Lay at firstyearwitness@mulss.com.
Documents & Recordings
2024 Competitor Training Workshop Recording - Click here to download.
2024 Competitor Training Workshop Slides - Click here to download.
2024 Competitor Guidebook - Click here to download.
2024 Judging Guidebook - Click here to download.
2024 Scoresheet - Click here to download.
Congratulations to our 2024 Winners and thank you!
A huge congratulations to our 2024 winners: Emily O’Byrne and Sothean Lay - on your outstanding achievement!
Well done as well to our 2024 Runners-Up: Vedanth Shah and Olivia Mann.
A heartfelt thank you to our 2024 Co-opts, David Lind and Nyonika Banerjee, for your invaluable contributions throughout the year.
Thank you to all competitors for making this season exceptional!
Past winners
2024 – Emily O’Byrne and Sothean Lay
2023 – David Lind and Daniel Kabir
2022 – Jamie Oslington and Daisy Clarke
2021 – Aaron Low and Benji Batten
2020 – Janice Chan and Shruti Sudarsan
2019 – Alyssa Kim and Yuandong Qin
2018 – Dave Johnson and Bodhi Shribman
2017 – Sean Carr and Jessie Li
2016 – Elif Sekercioglu and Jacob Rodrigo
2015 – Caitlin O’Neil and Madeline Close
2014 – Finn Douglas and Esther Faine-Vallantin