Virtual moot court : a pilot study

This paper draws on staff reflections and student feedback on the pilot stage of a Second Life Mooting project conducted during Autumn Semester 2010 at the University of Western University (‘UWS’). It presents preliminary findings as to the feasibility of more wide-spread uses of Second Life as a platform for mooting. The paper examines positive and negative outcomes of the pilot study and argues that, on balance, further developments in this area should be pursued, notwithstanding the need for more work on some of the drawbacks, including some technical difficulties. The paper also explores the potential for Second Life to be used for moot training, and to host national and international mooting competitions. The potential for crossinstitutional, interdisciplinary and even international collaboration with networks presently evolving around the use of Second Life in tertiary education is also discussed.