Appleby’s Bermuda office recently concluded its first annual summer internship mock trial, known as a “moot court” competition, showcasing high-caliber students interested in pursuing a career in law. Over the course of 8-weeks, six summer interns (Jasmin Brown, Louis Hammond and Malcolm Hendrickson who served as the ‘Plaintiff’ team, and Max Blakeney, Tiffany Cooper, and Za’Khari Turner who served as the ‘Defendant’ team) were immersed in a rigorous and comprehensive program designed to simulate real-world legal challenges, culminating in a final trial on 15 August that tested their skills in a high-stakes courtroom environment.
The Appleby Moot was led by two of the firm’s Associates, Kiara Wilkinson and Ligaya Sanchez-Wilson, who first met five years ago as law students competing in a similar moot competition organized by the Bermuda Bar Association. Kiara and Ligaya are members of the Dispute Resolution practice which is led by John Wasty, Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution in Bermuda. Reflecting on the invaluable experience that shaped their careers and led them to become dual-qualified barristers, they were motivated to recreate that opportunity for the firm’s summer interns. Their shared vision was to offer an unforgettable experience that not only honed the students’ legal skills but also introduced them to the realities of working in a fast-paced legal environment.
The moot competition centred around a complex personal injury claim involving a construction site, providing a solid framework for the interns to develop their legal expertise. Over the 8-weeks, the interns were introduced to various aspects of legal practice, including client care and practice management, and attended drafting workshops and advocacy training sessions designed to prepare them for trial.
Appleby’s current Trainees, Milaun Perott and Ryley Tannock (who will be called to the Bermuda Bar in September 2024), stepped into the role to mentor the interns through each stage of the process. This provided the interns with direct access to insight and guidance from those who were once in their position, creating a bridge between academic knowledge and practical application, while also providing a unique opportunity for the Trainees to learn valuable leadership skills.
The competition was fierce, and both teams demonstrated exceptional dedication and enthusiasm. The winning team of the legal case was team ‘Defendant’ (Max Blakeney, Tiffany Cooper, and Za’Khari Turner), who were mentored by Trainee Ryley Tannock and led by Associate Ligaya Sanchez-Wilson. The team’s ability to synthesize legal knowledge with strategic thinking and persuasive advocacy truly impressed the judging panel. This year’s winning team of the 2024 Appleby Moot was team ‘Plaintiff’ (Jasmin Brown, Louis Hammond and Malcolm Hendrickson), under the mentorship of Trainee Milaun Perott and led by Associate Kiara Wilkinson, whose overall performance throughout the 8-week competition earned them the top honours. Both teams exhibited outstanding skills in teamwork and collaboration, client care, drafting and general practice management. The firm had active engagement across the entire moot competition including everyone from support staff to partners, who provided mentoring, training and even played witnesses and courtroom personnel.
Brad Adderley, Managing Partner in Bermuda commented, “At Appleby, we believe that the best way to prepare for a successful legal career is through immersive, hands-on experience, and through strong collaboration. The project’s multi-layered team structure provided a rich training experience for not only our six summer interns, but also our two Trainees Milaun and Ryley and our two Associates Kiara and Ligaya who collaborated as a cohesive 10-person team, leading to the successful and highly enriching completion of the project.
Congratulations to our interns who immersed themselves in all aspects of their rotational internship program, in addition to diving deeply into this demanding mock trial project. The program’s success is a testament to the passion and leadership of our outstanding Associates Kiara and Ligaya – their unwavering dedication is to be admired and sets a high standard for future Associates to aspire to. Well done Appleby team!”
Appleby is excited to host this moot court competition again next year and to continue to provide other training opportunities designed to challenge and inspire aspiring lawyers to develop their skills, in a supportive and dynamic environment. If you are an aspiring lawyer eager to learn and grow in a firm that values excellence, we invite you to explore internship and training opportunities with us. For more information on how to apply, please visit our website or contact our HR team.
