Students will address human rights violations, state responsibility for corporate actions and more in the world’s largest moot court competition
Global law firm White & Case LLP announced that nearly 3,000 students from more than 100 countries are registered to participate in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.
The 2019 Jessup is set to have 688 teams and marks a number of firsts for the competition since it began 60 years ago. Teams from Myanmar, Oman, Sierra Leone and South Sudan will compete for the first time; and Myanmar, Puerto Rico, Slovenia and Zimbabwe will host their first qualifying rounds.
"The Jessup competition is a great way for law students to build advocacy skills that will serve them well in their legal career," said White & Case Chairman Hugh Verrier. "As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Jessup, I am inspired by the energy and engagement of the next generation of international lawyers."
The competition, administered by the International Law Students Association, requires students to present oral and written arguments on a hypothetical international law case before a simulated International Court of Justice.
This year's hypothetical case addresses legal issues such as human rights violations and state responsibility for corporate actions.
Teams will compete in more than 60 national and regional competitions to earn the right to represent their countries in April at the White & Case International Rounds in Washington, DC, where they will vie for the top prize—the Jessup World Cup.
White & Case has been a Global Partner of the Jessup since 2007 and sponsor of the White & Case International Rounds since 2010. This year the Firm is also supporting 14 qualifying rounds, including the first national competition in Myanmar. Below are the dates for the White & Case–supported rounds:
- Australia: Feb. 5 – 9
- Belgium: Feb. 23
- Brazil: Feb. 20 – 23
- Canada: Feb. 21 – 23
- Egypt: Feb. 15 – 16
- France: Feb. 8 – 9
- Georgia: Feb. 23 – 24
- Hong Kong China: Feb. 23 – 24
- Mexico: Feb. 26 – Mar. 1
- Myanmar: Feb. 2
- Poland: Feb. 5 – 6
- Russia: Jan. 30 – Feb. 3
- United Kingdom: Feb. 15 – 17
- Washington, DC, US Mid-Atlantic Regional: Feb. 14 – 17
- White & Case International Rounds: Mar. 31 – Apr. 6
The importance and scope of the Jessup is portrayed in an award-winning, feature-length documentary film, ALL RISE: Journeys to a Just World. The film follows seven law students on their journey through the Jessup season. ALL RISE, which premiered at the United Nations, was selected for film festivals in the United States and the United Kingdom, and has been screened at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the Library of Congress and a number of international law conferences. This year, the film was made available for screenings by all participating Jessup teams and administrators worldwide; nearly 108 screenings have been held in 38 countries to date. For more details on the film, and to view the trailer, please visit http://www.allrisemovie.com/.
White & Case is a leading global law firm with lawyers in 44 offices across 30 countries. Among the first US-based law firms to establish a truly global presence, we provide counsel and representation in virtually every area of law that affects cross-border business. Our clients value both the breadth of our global network and the depth of our US, English and local law capabilities in each of our regions and rely on us for their complex cross-border transactions, as well as their representation in arbitration and litigation proceedings. To learn more about the Firm, our work on behalf of clients and points of view from around the world, please take a look at our Services and Our Thinking pages.
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