Girls’ College students best advocates

Tauranga Girls’ College students appeared in the Hamilton High Court this week on behalf of their “client” Frank Smith to defend him for being unfairly expelled by Mount Valley College’s board of trustees.

The hearing was part of the University of Waikato mooting competition in which students Emily Van Arendonk, Lydia Verschaffelt and Loren McCarthy won.

Tauranga Girls’ College students Loren McCarthy, Emily Van Arendonk and Lydia Verschaffelt.

Of the 30 or so teams from around the North Island initially competing, Tauranga Girls’ College faced off against Otumoetai College in the finals on Wednesday night.

They initially began preparing for the first hearing on April 16 and have worked steadily since then proceeding to the semi-finals on June 20, which was heard in the Hamilton District Court.  

The judges were impressed by their outstanding delivery and Emily Van Arendonk was commended by being told that she had, “the attributes of an advocate.”  

Once again the girls presented their case with the poise and control of experienced lawyers, says a Tauranga Girls’ College spokesperson. 

The judges congratulated them on being, “extremely articulate and self-assured”.

The Tauranga Girls’ College team won the competition, taking out schools like Hamilton Boys High, Sacred Heart and Hillcrest High. 

Each of them received a scholarship to attend the University of Waikato Law School valued at $3000 together with book vouchers.  

The senior counsel representing Otumoetai College received recognition for being the best individual mooter.