So much so, the University of Otago law students recently won the New Zealand Bell Gully Open Mooting Competition in Auckland, and they will now represent New Zealand in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, in Washington DC, in March.
While it may seem excessive, the duo have taken on two researchers — Oliver Thorns and Flynn Struckmann — with the primary focus of helping them to strengthen their debates for the international competition.
"We were stoked to win the New Zealand title because there was quite a lot of work that went into it," Miss Bowmar said.
"It was also the first time since 2022 that Otago has won it."
Miss Bowmar said mooting was basically a mock court case.
"It simulates a court hearing, so it involves speaking in front of the court.
"The one in Auckland was a relationship property moot, so it was about the splitting up of assets from the end of the marriage."
It was educational in itself, she said.
However, the moot for the international court would be more challenging, so she and Mr Kidd would spend much of their holidays with their researchers preparing for it.
"It's super exciting to be representing New Zealand."
The topic of the moot involved international law and their submissions would be heard in the mock International Court of Justice, she said.
"The moot concerns human rights, the rights of indigenous people and some criminal law as well.
"It involves a series of disputes between two neighbouring states, and it involves the extraction of natural resources.
"So, it’s about who has rights to what.
"We have to prepare for all sides of the argument, because we will have to do a number of moots on each side, as part of the competition."
Miss Bowmar said they would be up against strong competition from around the world and would not venture a guess as to how well they would go.
"I think we'd be pretty stoked just to be part of it.
"We’re pretty lucky to make it this far."
