18 May 2026 · Student Achievement · Professor Andrew Blake, School of Law
Second-year LLB students Elena Vasquez and Thomas Wright, coached by Senior Lecturer Catherine Pemberton, represented Luma at the national mooting finals on 16 May 2026. The pair argued a complex public law case before a bench comprising a Court of Appeal judge, a leading barrister and a Supreme Court judicial assistant, finishing as runners-up to the University of Cambridge.
The competition, sponsored by a major London chambers, attracts entries from over 80 law schools annually. Luma progressed through regional heats in Birmingham before securing a semi-final victory against the University of Manchester. Vasquez, who delivered the appellant submissions, received the Best Oralist award for the final round—a first for the university in the competition's 34-year history.
"Mooting demands precision, quick thinking and absolute command of the authorities. Elena and Thomas demonstrated all three at the highest level," said Pemberton, herself a former practising barrister. "Their success will inspire our junior mooters and demonstrates that Luma competes confidently against Russell Group institutions."
The School of Law has invested significantly in advocacy training over the past five years, including a dedicated moot court room modelled on Crown Court layout and weekly coaching sessions led by visiting practitioners. Head of School Professor David Ellison noted that employers consistently cite mooting experience when recruiting Luma graduates.
Both students plan to complete the Bar Practice Course after graduation. Wright, who grew up in Dudley, said representing Luma at the Supreme Court was "the most challenging and rewarding experience of my degree". The school will host a celebratory moot on 12 June open to prospective law applicants.