Oxford Law Students Reach Quarter-Finals at Nuremberg Moot Court Competition
Four Oxford Law Faculty students have achieved strong results at the 10th Nuremberg Moot Court Competition, placing among the top teams in multiple categories at the international criminal law tournament.
Ashlyn Cheong, Dane Luo, Parul Sinha, and Syed Adil competed against 129 teams from universities worldwide during the oral rounds held at Nuremberg's Palace of Justice, including the historic Courtroom 600 where Nazi leaders were tried following World War II.
The Oxford team secured several distinctions: the Best Defence Memorial Award, quarter-finalist placement in the advanced oral rounds, second place in combined prosecutor and defence memorial scores, and fourth place in the preliminary oral rounds.
The competition simulates International Criminal Court proceedings, requiring students to present arguments on complex matters of international criminal law. This year's case involved issues of genocide incitement and in absentia criminal proceedings under the Rome Statute.
"It was very exciting to moot in the historic Palace of Justice where the trials for Nazi leaders after WWII were held," said team member Dane Luo. "Participating in the competition has given me a real appreciation for the important work by the International Criminal Court to end impunity and prevent crimes that shock the conscience of humanity, whilst affording due process rights to all accused."
The team spent six months preparing written memorials and oral arguments under the guidance of coach Juan-Pablo Perez-Leon-Acevedo. The preparation involved extensive research into the Rome Statute and international criminal law jurisprudence, as well as numerous practice sessions to refine advocacy skills.
"Standing in Nuremberg and beholding the birthplace of modern international criminal law has been unforgettable," noted Ashlyn Cheong, who found the defence presentation particularly valuable for developing oral advocacy skills and gaining insight into in absentia proceedings.
Parul Sinha described the experience as "the most demanding and rewarding chapter" of her studies, crediting the months of preparation with advancing her research discipline and advocacy abilities.
The Nuremberg Moot Court Competition brings together law students from universities across 28 countries, providing a platform to engage with international criminal law in the venue where many of its foundations were established. Oxford's consistent performance across both written and oral components demonstrates the students' comprehensive preparation and understanding of this specialised area of law.