Moot Court Programs
BU Law's advanced Moot Court Programs give students the chance to tackle complex cases that demand thorough research and excellent oral and written presentations. Upper-level competitions are open to second- and third-year students who meet the specified requirements.
PROBLEM SOLVING IN INTERNATIONAL LAW &
THE 2009-10 PHILIP C. JESSUP INTERNATIONAL LAW
MOOT COURT COMPETITION
The Jessup Moot Court Competition is a prestigious moot court competition that attracts law students from all over the world. Named after Philip C. Jessup, who served on the International Court of Justice, it is held annually, culminating in the final International Tournament held in Washington, D.C. every spring. Next year will be the 51st year of the Competition.
Teams of five students each prepare arguments based on a hypothetical case before the International Court of Justice. Teams must present arguments for both the Applicant's and the Respondent's sides and submit a written memorial (i.e. brief) for each. The Competition Problem is famous for presenting complex and current puzzles in international law that competitors are required to resolve. Recent topics have included the International Criminal Court, international free speech law, international environmental law, and the tension between respecting human rights and responding to acts of terrorism. This year’s case will address “the right to self-determination and the lawfulness of measures taken to protect the economic resources of a State.”
Reasons to become involved
One of the main reasons for Jessup's popularity and prestige is the caliber of the law students from all over the world that compete. By the time of oral arguments, teams have become fluent in basic principles of international law, international institutions and procedures, international case law, and some of the most controversial international law aspects of contemporary foreign affairs. The team structure invites a collaborative and flexible learning experience in which to develop this expertise. The judges of the Competition are international lawyers and scholars, and the judges of the final rounds tend to be drawn from among the most eminent practitioners of the field, including past and present judges of the International Court of Justice.
If you are interested in a career in international law, in broadening your knowledge of current events or international law, or in strengthening your oral and written advocacy skills in the most prestigious international moot court competition in the world, you should consider applying.
Jessup and course-work
This year, Jessup will be offered as part of the 2 credit, year-long course, Problem Solving in International Law. The first part of this course includes an introduction to the general theories of international law and methodologies of problem-solving and teamwork.
After the Problem is released in September 2009, students will work together to produce the written memorials, which must be submitted in January 2010. Finally, students will engage in an intensive series of moot court sessions, before the regional competitions held around February 2010. Should the team be placed within the top two finalists, it will advance to the International Tournament, held in late March 2010. After competing, students will be encouraged to draft scholarly notes on interesting aspects of the Problem, for possible publication in an international law journal.
Preparing for the Jessup is an intensive time commitment. Each team member will be required to devote an average of six hours per week to research, writing, and oral argument. The exact time commitment will fluctuate weekly, requiring more time some weeks, less others-depending on both the schedules established by the International Law Students Association (ILSA), which administers the competition, and internal (BU) team deadlines, which will be established to avoid any conflicts with the reading and finals periods and semester breaks. Visiting Assistant Professor Ivan Reidel will be teaching the Problem Solving in International Law course and advising the 2009-10 team
How to apply
Applications will be accepted at the beginning of the second week of Fall 2009. Please submit the following: resume, brief writing sample, and a one page statement explaining your interest in participating in Jessup to Professor Reidel at: ireidel@bu.edu. Please also include a transcript (formal or informal), although this is only one, and not necessarily the most important, of the criteria that will be used to evaluate applications.
Jessup is open to 2L and 3L students, and LL.M. students who have not yet engaged in the practice of law. Some prior or simultaneous course work in international law is encouraged but not required. Further information can be found at http://www.ilsa.org/jessup/. There will also be an information session in the first week of Fall 2009, and students are encouraged to bring along their questions about the competition itself and the Problem Solving in International Law course. Decisions on team members will be made before the end of the September add/drop period.