A team of law students from Bond University has reached the round of 32 in the Jessup, the world’s largest moot court competition involving 580 law schools around the world.
Claudia Wilson, Olivia Wilson, Caitlyn Douglas and Ava Pearson travelled to Washington DC to compete in the competition, picking up an Alona M. Evans Award for their performance in one of the rounds.
Claudia Wilson was also ranked No.9 among the top 25 oralists in the Jessup.
The competition, officially called the Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition, was won by a team from the University of Amsterdam.
Bond University’s Director of Competitive Mooting, Assistant Professor Lisa Bonin, said she could not be prouder of the team.
“Historically we’ve participated in this moot regularly and our teams generally do very well, but the Australian qualification rounds are always very competitive,” she said.
“They’re probably among the most competitive in the world, making it very difficult to qualify for international rounds, so being able to make it to Washington is an exceptional achievement.”
The International Law Students Association organises the competition that involves students presenting in written and oral arguments on a hypothetical international law case.
This year the case was based on a scenario in which a simulated International Court of Justice deliberated on issues such as interpreting a peace treaty, fatal attacks in disputed territory, imposing unilateral economic sanctions, and the legal implications of improper disposal of hazardous waste.
The only other Australian university to advance as far as Bond in the competition was Macquarie University.