The Catherine Callaghan Moot 2026

ALBA is delighted to announce details of this year’s Catherine Callaghan mooting competition, with the finals to be held on Thursday 3 December 2026 from 5pm at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. There will be three judges drawn from members of the Senior Judiciary.

The Catherine Callaghan Moot is so named to honour the memory of Catherine Callaghan KC, who was Chair of ALBA from 2022 to 2023, having previously served as Vice-Chair. Catherine was a widely respected public lawyer and a cherished friend and colleague to many at the public law bar. She died in August 2025, at the tragically young age of 54.

The competition is open to current law students, including LLB, GDL and Bar Course students, and also to those who have completed the LLB / GDL / Bar Course in the last 5 years. Entrants must not have secured pupillage or a training contract as at 26 October 2026.

Mooters should enter in teams of two (please note that those wishing to participate are responsible for arranging their own teams and the ALBA Mooting Sub-Committee are unable to assist in pairing individuals with potential team members).

Those wishing to participate should refer to the detailed instructions to candidates here:

Instructions to candidates

A copy of the YC case is available here.

Ram [1979] 1 W.L.R. 148 (1)

R v Secretary of State for the Home Department Ex p Minton (1)

Hazell [1992] 2 A.C. 1 (1)

Entries for the competition should be submitted via the following Google Form, where you will be asked to enter your team’s details and upload a copy of your skeleton argument. Entries should be submitted by 5.00pm on Monday 26 October 2026.

The prizes are £1000 for the winning team; £500 for the second-placed team. The four members of the winning and second-placed team will also each be entitled to a free place at the ALBA summer conference in 2027.