JUS5040 – Moot Court
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This elective course offers participation in a moot court, a teaching component focused on the preparation of written and oral submissions before a court or tribunal and improvement of the substantive knowledge of the participants in the subject areas of the selected moot court.
A moot court is a simulation of judicial proceedings. It revolves around a fictitious case in which the participating students act as lawyers before a simulated court or arbitral body. The case involves complex legal and factual questions. Students are usually grouped in teams of 2-4 students. The teams are assigned to represent both of the parties to the dispute. The moot court involves both a written and an oral component, as the participants will be required to draft written memorials and to participate in oral hearings. During the final oral rounds, students plead the case of their designated party against students from other law schools in front of experts who acts as judges or arbiters in the international competition. In many competitions, students have the chance to receive prices not only for winning the competition, but also for the best memorial and best individual pleadings.
This course offers and requires participation in one of the following moot court competitions (this selection may be subject to change):
The Philipp C. Jessup Moot Court Competition, also known as the Jessup, is the oldest and largest, highly prestigious international law moot competition in the world, attracting participants from more than 400 law schools from more than 100 countries. The competition is a simulation of a fictional dispute in the field of public international law between countries before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The final rounds take place in Washington D.C. (USA).
The Telders International Moot Court Competition is a highly prestigious international law moot court competition for students of European law schools. The competition is a simulation of a fictional dispute in the field of public international law between countries before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The final rounds take place in Leiden and The Hague (Netherlands). The two finalist teams plead for the final round in the Peace Palace, before a panel of judges normally comprising ICJ judges.
The Nuremberg Moot Court Competition is a highly prestigious international moot court competition in the field of international criminal law. The competition is a simulation of a fictional case before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in which students represent the office of the prosecutor and the office of defence. The final rounds take place in Nuremberg (Germany).
The Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court Competition is the biggest and most prestigious moot court in the field of international commercial law attracting more than 300 law schools from all over the world. The case for the moot court is always based on an international sales transaction subjected to the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (1980) and involves procedural issues of arbitration. The final rounds take place in Vienna (Austria).
The course entails a comprehensive two-semester program, including a joint teaching component for all teams in oral and written advocacy, supervised preparation for the written and oral stage for the individual teams, and participation in the international rounds of the moot court competition.
Learning outcome
Participation in the competitions entails both the preparation of written submissions (pleadings) and oral submissions, and it will thus give students insight into and training in the classic craftsmanship of lawyers.
Se the full learning outcome
Admission
You may register for this course if you have admission to Rettsvitenskap (jus) (master - 5 år) ore the Master programme in Public International Law.
All students are required meet the formal prerequistites.
When your admission is in order you must register for courses in StudentWeb
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Students must fill one of these requirements:
- Passed 1st - 3rd year of the 5-years degree Master of Laws (Master i rettsvitenskap at UiO) (or exams that qualify for exemption for these) or
- Hold a 5-years Master’s degree in Laws (Master i rettsvitenskap at UiO) or equivalent.
Exemptions from the formal prerequisites will be given to students with admission to the faculty's own exchange or master’s degree programmes. This rule does not apply to students with admission to other master’s degree programmes at the University of Oslo, unless otherwise agreed.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with JUS5041 – Prosedyrekonkurranser (continued)
- 10 credits overlap with JUS5042 – Moot Court
Teaching
The course consists of two joint teaching modules for all teams. Participation in these modules is obligatory.
During the autumn semester students will have 12 hours of teaching in English legal writing and written advocacy. This module includes a general introduction into mooting, into how to write a memorial and how to do research for moot court competitions. During the spring semester, students will have 6 hours of teaching in oral advocacy. This module includes, for example, a general introduction into oral advocacy in moot court competitions and
mock trials to prepare the students for pleading against the other teams in their respective competitions.
During the entire course students will work in their respective teams under the guidance of student coaches and under the supervision of academic staff of the Faculty. Student coaches are normally recruited from amongst previous participants in the course. The supervised work include the drafting
of the memorials, independent research on the case, and feedback sessions. The oral preparation includes several so-called mock trials in which students will be trained to present their case orally.
Participation in this supervised work is a requirement for completion of the course.
Finally, the course entails supervised participation in the final international rounds of the moot court competition.
Examination
The examination consists of a written and an oral part.
The written part of the examination entails the submission of the final draft of the memorial (the written submission for the respective moot court competition). For passing, the final draft must be approved by the responsible academic supervisors.
The oral part of the final examination consists of the final mock trial which takes place at the Faculty of Law before the oral rounds of the respective competition.
The moot court competitions are conducted in English.
The course will be listed as JUS5040 Moot Court on grade transcripts and certificates. Individual documentation for the completion of the respective competition is the responsibility of the individual student.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.