Oxford Law Students Place in Top 10 at UN Human Rights Competition

Two students from Oxford Law Faculty have achieved notable results at the Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition, finishing in the top 10 among 85 participating teams.

William Foxton and Chloe Kwan represented Oxford at the competition, which took place at the United Nations Palais des Nations in Geneva. The pair secured ninth place in the advanced rounds, with Foxton receiving recognition as the second-best speaker during the preliminary stages.

The Nelson Mandela competition, now in its 17th year, draws law students from universities around the world to compete in international human rights law advocacy. The event provides participants with an opportunity to present arguments before panels of experts in the field.

"It was an invaluable experience to explore this area of law, develop my advocacy skills, and receive feedback from leading experts in human rights and international law," said Foxton, who maintained strong performance throughout both preliminary and advanced rounds.

The students prepared for several months under the guidance of coach Juan-Pablo Perez-Leon-Acevedo, who noted their "commitment, advocacy skills, and knowledge of international human rights law matters."

The placement adds to Oxford Law Faculty's record in international moot court competitions, which have become standard venues for law schools to provide students with practical advocacy experience. These competitions offer students the chance to apply their legal knowledge in simulated court proceedings before experienced practitioners.

The result demonstrates the continued emphasis on practical skills training alongside traditional legal education, as law schools adapt their programmes to prepare students for contemporary legal practice.