MSLU Wins Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, Russian Round

On February 6, the team of the MSLU Law Faculty came third in the qualifying round of Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Moscow. They will represent Russia at the international round of the Competition that will take place in Washington DC, USA.

The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, also known as the Jessup Moot is the world’s most famous moot court competition, with participants from 700 law schools in 90 countries. The competition is a simulation of the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. The Global Partners of the Jessup Moot are White&Case LLP, Baker&Mckenzie, DLA Piper. The competition is held entirely in English.

Student teams officially begin to prepare in September with the opening of registration and the release of the Jessup Problem. They prepare oral and written pleadings arguing both the applicant and respondent positions of the case. The contest engages students in legal research, preparing written submissions to a Court and presenting oral arguments in a courtroom setting. The topics for Jessup 2019 concern the appropriation of traditional knowledge for commercial purposes, state responsibility for corporate environmental degradation and human rights violations, and majestic herds of migratory yaks. 

The Russian National Championship of the Jessup Competition was held at Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), with participants from 30 Russian universities.

The MSLU team included Vlada Podkhomutnikova and Igor Kuznetsov, fourth-year students, and Anna Lunshina and Inna Matveeva, recent graduates of the Law Faculty and former contestants, now registered as official coaches of the MSLU team. Inna has been the team's pro bono coach for three years. As for Anna, it’s her first year as the team's coach. They have been with the team at all stages of preparation. Great support was also offered by Yekaterina Alexandrova and Yekaterina Chernova, former participants and coaches, now turned national round judges.