Appleby’s Bermuda office has concluded its first summer internship mock trial, known as a “moot court” competition, showcasing high-calibre students interested in pursuing a career in law.

Over the course of eight weeks, the firm said, six interns were immersed in a rigorous and comprehensive programme designed to simulate real-world legal challenges, culminating in a final trial 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 organised by the Bermuda Bar Association.

The moot competition at Appleby centred on a complex personal injury claim involving a construction site, providing a solid framework for the interns to develop their legal expertise.

The firm said 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, mentored the interns through each stage of the process. The firm said 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 Mr Tannock and led by Ms Sanchez-Wilson.

Appleby said the team’s ability to synthesise legal knowledge with strategic thinking and persuasive advocacy impressed the judging panel.

The winner of the moot was team “Plaintiff” (Jasmin Brown, Louis Hammond and Malcolm Hendrickson) under the mentorship of Ms Perott and led by Ms Wilkinson, whose overall performance throughout the eight-week competition earned them the top honours.

The firm said both teams exhibited outstanding skills in teamwork and collaboration, client care, drafting and general practice management.

Appleby said the firm had active engagement across the entire moot competition including everyone from support staff to partners, who provided mentoring, training and played witnesses and courtroom personnel.

Brad Adderley, managing partner in Bermuda, said: “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 multilayered 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 ten-person team, leading to the successful and highly enriching completion of the project.”