Oxford Mooting

Philip C Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition

Jessup is a public international law moot court competition in which more than 500 universities participate world-wide. The competition was established 50 years ago and is run by the International Law Students Association. The case typically involves complex issues of public international law, ranging from State responsibility to the law of sea, human rights law and environmental law. Successful teams at the UK national rounds in London go on to compete in the Shearman & Sterling international rounds, which take place every spring in Washington, DC. The undergraduate team selected to represent Oxford prepares memorials (written pleadings) and oral argument for the two parties to the dispute.

Continuing Oxford's successful record at the Jessup Moot Court Competition, a team of four-undergarduate students defeated the University of Cambridge in the UK Championship finals held on 17 February 2013 at Gray's Inn, London. Jiahui Huang bagged the award for the Best Speaker in finals.

Last year, the Oxford team were runners-up at the UK National Rounds and received the award for the Best Respondent Memorial. They finished fifth at the international rounds in Washington D.C., in March 2012.

The 2012 Oxford Jessup team – (l-r): Leonie Amarasekara (Exeter), Jamie Pang (Lincoln), Oliver Capehorn (Jesus), Scott Tan (Queen's), Elton Tan (Exeter)

Our 2010 team was placed 6th in the world and were UK Runners-up, as well as winning the prize for the best respondent memorial in the UK. Our team reached the octo-finals in Washington, DC in 2007 and won the 6th Best Memorial Award in 2008. In 2008 and 2009, the Oxford team were also declared the UK White & Case Jessup Champions.

The 2010 Oxford Jessup team – (l-r): Moeiz Farhan (Oriel), Lauren Adams (Regent's Park), Valentin Jeutner (Pembroke), Di Yu (Brasenose) and Kyle Le Croy (Worcester) at Gray's Inn, London, for the White & Case UK Jessup Competition

The 2010 Oxford Jessup team – (l-r): Kyle Le Croy (Worcester), Ryan Goss (Lincoln, coach), Lauren Adams (Regent's Park), Di Yu (Brasenose), Valentin Jeutner (Pembroke) and Moeiz Farhan (Oriel) in Washington, DC for the White & Case International Rounds

The 2009 Oxford Jessup Mooting Team (l to r): Ryan Goss (Lincoln, coach), Richard Hoyle (Brasenose), Daniel Baker (Harris Manchester), Katie Johnston (Corpus Christi), Ailene Chou (University), Lynn Yu (Exeter), Andrew Lodder (Magdalen, coach), Paschalis Paschalidis (Harris Manchester, Faculty Mooting Coordinator) with the Rebecca M M Wallace Trophy for the United Kingdom National Champions