Jessup International Law Moot

Course aim

This course is an advanced international law elective that combines specialist international legal research and writing activities with a significant oral component (by way of mooting). The aim of this course is to provide a select group of students with the opportunity to develop advanced legal skills (both written and oral) through participation in the Philip C Jessup International Moot Court Competition

Course content

This advanced course is based on the Philip C Jessup Moot Court Competition and the course content is consequently dependent on the nature and scope of the hypothetical legal problem set each year by the competition administrators.
However, the course assumes that students have a sound knowledge of the basic rules and principles of public international law.
Accordingly, the following areas of international law – representing the foundation topics of international law - are inevitably examined in considerable detail:
• the sources of international law, particularly the law on treaties and customary international law
• principles of state responsibility
• jurisdiction
• the peaceful settlement of disputes in the International Court of Justice
In addition, students will participate in regular workshops and practice moots that are designed to develop and improve the following practical legal skills:
• negotiation and effective communication within a team, where the team is required to work intensively over a sustained period
• advanced skills in legal research and writing
• oral advocacy and the art of effective communication and engagement with a court bench
• engagement and interaction with peers and superiors in a professional context
Students will be required to work collaboratively in identifying and researching the legal issues raised by the moot problem, developing arguments for both fictitious countries involved in the dispute

Students will also be required to workshop their arguments at regular team meetings in developing the formal written submissions to be lodged in accordance with the international competition rules (including any regional modifications or additions to the official rules)

Textbook(s)

Nil

Prerequisite(s)

Common to all relevant programs
Subject Area & Catalogue Number	Course Name
LAWS 3013	Public International Law

Corequisite(s)

Nil

Teaching method

Component	Duration
INTERNAL, CITY WEST
Workshop	2 hours x 8 weeks
External (Moot court)	2 hours x 8 weeks

Note: These components may or may not be scheduled in every study period. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Assessment

Draft memorials: group assessment, Final Memorials: group assessment, Moot: Applicant, Moot: Respondent

Fees

EFTSL*: 0.125
Commonwealth Supported program (Band 3)
To determine the fee for this course as part of a Commonwealth Supported program, go to:
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Fee-paying program for domestic and international students
International students and students undertaking this course as part of a postgraduate fee paying program must refer to the relevant program home page to determine the cost for undertaking this course.

Non-award enrolment
Non-award tuition fees are set by the university. To determine the cost of this course, go to:
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Not all courses are available on all of the above bases, and students must check to ensure that they are permitted to enrol in a particular course.

* Equivalent Full Time Study Load. Please note: all EFTSL values are published and calculated at ten decimal places. Values are displayed to three decimal places for ease of interpretation.