The Uni.lu Jessup team consisting of LL.M. students Theodora Liameti, Dieynaba Niang, Luis Rodrigues Lavinas and Zhongyu Wang, coached by Doctoral researcher Stanislav Gubenko along with Postdoctoral researcher Giulia Raimondo and Carolina Lichuma, competed in the Jessup at two levels over the 2022–2023 academic year, namely the European Rounds and the White & Case International Rounds.
Preparation for the oral phase of the moot court competitions
In early March, the FDEF invited people to support the Uni.lu Jessup team by attending their final practice pleading in preparation for the European Rounds. During the session the team members demonstrated what they have learned throughout the year before a panel of judges composed of FDEF Professor Matthew Happold, Doctoral researcher Francesca Finelli, and the Jessup coaches Giulia Raimondo and Caroline Lichuma.
The Uni.lu Jessup team also benefited from the valuable coaching and guidance by legal practitioners during a mooting session held at our partner Clifford Chance’s premises in Luxembourg.
European Rounds
From 9 to 11 March 2023, the Uni.lu Moot Court team participated at the Jessup European Rounds in Geneva, Switzerland. The FDEF students competed against teams from all over Europe and placed 8th out of 15 teams, which allowed them to qualify for the international rounds. Additionally, Zhongyu Wang was awarded the prize for the 7th Best Oralist out of 60 participants.
A pleasant surprise for the team was their encounter with Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel in Geneva, who congratulated the students and their coaches for their outstanding results.
International Rounds
From 8 to 15 April 2023, the Uni.lu Jessupers had the great opportunity to participate at the White & Case International Rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition organised by the International Law Students Association in Washington D.C., USA.
With over 130 teams participating in the international rounds, this competition enabled our team to build their network by participating in various formal and informal events, such as the Panel Discussion on Global Challenges hosted by Jessup Ukraine.
Furthermore, the Uni.lu Jessup team was welcomed at the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the United States. The team members met the Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr Gilles Bauer, and Consul, Counsellor Mr Frank Biever, who engaged in a lively discussion with them while offering special support.
This was a very inspiring and surely challenging journey through various areas of public international law. The Uni.lu Jessup Moot Court participants delivered remarkable performances and gained significant skills in written and oral advocacy, amongst many other learnings that they can apply in their future career.
About the Philip C. Jessup Moot Court Competition
Jessup is the world’s largest moot court competition with participants from roughly 700 law schools in 100 countries and jurisdictions. The participating teams compete against one another through the presentation of oral and written pleadings to address timely issues of public international law in the context of hypothetical legal dispute between nations. Each team prepares two written memorials and two 45-minte oral presentations, one for each party to the dispute (the “Applicant” and the “Respondent”). The teams argue alternately as Applicants and Respondent against competing teams before a panel of judges, simulating a proceeding before the International Court of Justice.
source: https://www.ilsa.org/about-jessup/