The Culture & Law Moot may become an annual event after the success of the inaugural function held earlier this month at the Banco Court.
On 15 March, the moot, addressing Does culture have a role to play in advocacy, was judged by Chief Justice Bowskill, Justice Mullins AO and Justice Collier.
It was brought together by a collaboration between the Pasifika Lawyers Association of Queensland (PLAQ), Asian Australian Lawyers Association (AALA) Queensland Chapter, Queensland African Lawyers Network (QALN) and the Magistracy. 
The audience was kept entertained at Banco Court.
The event, supported by Queensland Law Society, Lacuna Professional Solutions and Tilé and Olly Meets podcast, aimed to foster diversity, inclusion and positive discourse within the legal profession.
And it certainly achieved that with positive feedback received after the event.
PLAQ Secretary and moot working group member Tilé Imo said: “We have had such tremendous feedback from the judicial officers who attended, to other students who want to participate next year.
“Our working group is looking forward to debriefing and thinking about how we can sustain and bring the Culture & Law Moot back again.
“But right now I am just filled with gratitude at the support from judiciary and the profession, and also our communities who came to support and observe this inaugural event.”
Magistrate Dzenita Balic captured the essence of the moot, emphasizing the fusion of advocacy with culture.
“The advocacy moot was a unique experience for the participants. It provided a platform for interaction with judicial officers who challenged them on their arguments,” Magistrate Balic said.
“They showcased their capacity through their responses. It was a proud moment for lawyers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.”
Linda Cho, Vice President of AALA Queensland Chapter, said: “The evening was a vibrant exchange of perspectives, highlighting the undeniable significance of diversity in advocacy.
“Speakers passionately argued that diverse voices bring unique experiences, insights, and solutions to the table, enriching the discourse and ensuring representation for all communities.”
Teams from PLAQ, AALA, QALN and a volunteer team showcased their advocacy prowess while celebrating diversity and highlighting the collective duty to justice and the law.
Olamide Kowalik of QALN said: “It was excellent to see in real life the manifestation of the mission to provide opportunity for our various groups to interact with the judiciary in a positive way.
“The judges provided meaningful advice and criticism, tangible feedback to encourage and build on. This was invaluable.”
The overall winner was the AALA team of Jason Wang and Priya Virdee-Hero. 
The working group who organised the event.
Tilé said all the mooters should be congratulated for taking the opportunity to get involved, in particular student and early career mooters. They were QALN team of Frank Kabalu and Vwanganji Enobakhare; the PLAQ team of Tommy Lopau and Loise Au; and the (Volunteer as) Tribute Team of James Pisko and Stephen Muir.
There was a post-event networking session.
Tilé said the networking facilitated valuable interactions between participants and the judiciary, further enriching the experience.
“It’s heartening to witness the legal community come together to embrace diversity and pave the way for a more inclusive profession. Kudos to all involved in making this event a resounding success.”
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