JUS5042 – Moot Court
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
A moot court is a simulation of a judicial proceeding. It revolves around a fictitious case in which the participating students act as lawyers before a simulated court or arbitral body. The case involves complex legal and factual questions. Students are usually grouped in teams of 2-4 students. The teams are assigned to represent both of the parties to the dispute. The moot court involves both a written and an oral component, as the participants will be required to draft written memorials and to participate in oral hearings. During the final international oral rounds, students plead the case of their designated party against students from other law schools in front of experts who acts as judges or arbiters in the international competition. In many competitions, students have the chance to receive prices not only for winning the competition, but also for the best memorial and best individual pleadings.
This course offers and requires participation in one of the following moot court competitions (this selection may be subject to change):
The Philipp C. Jessup Moot Court Competition, also known as the Jessup, is the oldest and largest, international law moot competition in the world, attracting participants from more than 700 law schools from more than 100 countries. The competition is a simulation of a fictional dispute in the field of public international law between countries before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The final rounds take place in Washington D.C. (USA).
The Telders International Moot Court Competition is the oldest and largest international law moot court in Europe. (The Faculty will not participate in the Telders Moot Court Competition in 2024/2025). Students from more than 80 universities from 30 European countries participate each year. The competition is a simulation of a fictional dispute in the field of public international law between countries before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The final rounds take place in Leiden and The Hague (Netherlands). The two finalist teams plead for the final round in the Peace Palace, before a panel of judges normally comprising ICJ judges.
The ICC Moot Court Competition is simulating the proceedings of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Competition consists of an extensive six-day educational and social program, which brings together students of diverse backgrounds and cultures to The Hague to challenge their skills as future international lawyers. The final round is expected to take place in an actual ICC courtroom with ICC judges adjudicating.
The Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court Competition is the biggest and most prestigious moot court in the field of international commercial law attracting more than 300 law schools from all over the world. The case for the moot court is always based on an international sales transaction subjected to the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (1980) and involves procedural issues of arbitration. The final rounds take place in Vienna (Austria).
The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) annual EEA Law Moot Court Competition is a moot court in the field of EEA law with participating students from primarily Icelandic and Norwegian universities act as advocates representing different parties in a fictional EEA law case. The international final rounds finals of the competition will usually alternate each year between Iceland and Norway.
The Nordic Human Rights Moot Court Competition (Nordisk prosedyrekonkurranse i menneskerettigheter) is a moot court in the field of international human rights with participating students from the Nordic countries, including Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland. The moot court evolves around a fictitious case before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The final rounds are held in one of the Nordic capitals.
The course entails a comprehensive two-semester program, including a joint teaching component for all teams in oral and written advocacy, supervised preparation for the written and oral stage for the individual teams, and participation in the international rounds of the moot court competition. Travel expenses and hotel will be covered for the participants.
Participation in moot courts will be intensive and time consuming, so please consider if your participation is compatible with your other curricular and extra-curricular activities and commitments.
Learning outcome
Participation in the competitions entails both the preparation of written submissions (pleadings) and oral submissions, and it will thus give students insight into and training in the classic craftsmanship of lawyers.
Se the full learning outcome
Admission
You may register for this course if you are enrolled in the Rettsvitenskap (jus) (master - 5 ?r) or the Master programme in Public International Law, Information and Communication Technology Law , Theory and Practice of Human Rights or Maritime Law.
All students are required to meet the formal prerequisites.
Apply to Jessup, Vis Moot, ICC or EEA Moot court Competition
Apply to Nordisk prosedyrekonkurranse i menneskerettigheter
Application deadline for students enrolled in Rettsvitenskap is 31 May 2024. Candidates will be invited for an interview 3-13 June 2024.
Application deadline for the above-mentioned international master programmes is 16 August 2024. Candidates will be contacted for an interview 19-30 August 2024.
As there are limited places available, students need to apply and will be selected based on their merits, their application, and their performance in the interviews. Students may apply for all 5 competitions, but please note that “Nordisk prosedyrekonkurranse i menneskerettigheter" is conducted in Norwegian (or another of the Scandinavian languages).
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Students must fill one of these requirements:
Passed 2nd year of the 5-years degree Master of Laws (Master i rettsvitenskap at UiO) or equivalent.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with JUS5040 – Moot Court (continued)
- 10 credits overlap with JUS5041 – Prosedyrekonkurranser (continued)
- 10 credits overlap with JUS5043 – Prosedyre
Teaching
Compulsory activity: (approved/not approved)
All students must submit a final draft of the memorial. For passing, the final draft must be approved by the responsible academic supervisors.
The course consists of two joint teaching modules for all teams. Participation in these modules is obligatory.
During the autumn semester students will have 6 hours of teaching in legal writing and written advocacy. This module includes a general introduction into mooting, into how to write a memorial, and how to do research for moot court competitions. In addition, students will have 4 hours of teaching in the substantive law of their respective moot court competition.
During the spring semester, students will have 6 hours of teaching in oral advocacy. This module includes, for example, a general introduction into oral advocacy in moot court competitions and mock trials to prepare the students for pleading against the other teams in their respective competitions.
During the entire course students will work in their respective teams under the guidance of student coaches and under the supervision of academic staff of the Faculty. Student coaches are normally recruited from amongst previous participants in the course. The supervised work includes the drafting
of the memorials, independent research on the case, and feedback sessions. The oral preparation includes several so-called mock trials in which students will be trained to present their case orally.
Participation in this supervised work is a requirement for completion of the course.
Finally, the course entails supervised participation in the final international rounds of the moot court competition.
Students that participate in the Nordic Human Rights Moot Court Competition will participate in parts of the obligatory teaching of the course. In addition, they will have teaching in Norwegian under the auspices of Anine Kierulf.
Examination
The examination consists of the final mock trial (dress rehearsal) which takes place at the Faculty of Law before the international oral rounds of the respective competition. During these final mock trials, students present their oral arguments before a bench of mock trial judges. The mock trials take place between April and June. The dates of the final mock trials will be posted on the website and on Canvas.
The Jessup, (Telders) ICC, EEA and Vis moot court competitions are conducted in English. The Nordic Human Rights Moot Court competition is conducted in Norwegian (or another of the Scandinavian languages).
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.