Case Western Reserve University School of Law students have seen great success in international competitions over the years. Our students get experience in a variety of efforts—giving them relevant preparation for their future careers.
Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court
Organized by the International Law Students Association, the Jessup Competition is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious moot court tournaments, with over 600 schools competing from 100 countries from around the world. The competition involves a mock appellate argument before the International Court of Justice.
Traditionally, our law school has one of the best Jessup teams in the country—having won the U.S. Regional Competition eight out of the past 15 years, the World Championship in 2008 and the Best Brief in the World Award in 2011.
International Criminal Court Mock Trial Competition
Organized by the International Criminal Law Network, the ICC Competition features 50 schools from 40 countries, arguing a mock appellate argument before the International Criminal Court.
Each team member writes a 20-page brief due in January, representing the ICC Prosecutor, the Defendant, and the Government of the State where the Defendant is located. Each team member argues at least one preliminary round at the Americas' Competition held in New York in March. There are three semi-finals, and the three teams that make it to the finals go on to the International Rounds in The Hague in April, with a final round held at the real ICC. Professors Cassandra Robertson and Michael Benza coach this team.
Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot
The Vis Team, advised by Professor Kathryn Mercer, deals with international commercial disputes, usually regarding a breach of contract.
The team travels to Hong Kong each year for a weeklong competition with some of the world's strongest moot programs. Students argue in a quasi-judicial setting featuring three arbitrators and two teams representing the Claimant and Respondent, respectively. Students consult substantive law, such as the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), academic treatises and the arbitration rules of the forum to craft arguments and advocate for their client.
Many of the world's leading arbitration law firms and arbitral institutions sponsor the Vis Moot, and many of the volunteer arbitrators are themselves past participants or advanced practitioners.