Philip C Jessup International Law Moot
The Jessup Moot, named after the former Judge of the International Court of Justice, is the world's oldest and largest international moot competition. Notable alumni include Hilary Charlesworth'80 (International Court of Justice Judge), Sundaresh Menon'86 (Chief Justice of Singapore), James Edelman'96 (Justice of the High Court of Australia), Marco Rubio'95 (US Senator), VK Rajah'82 (A-G of Singapore), Steven Chong (Judge of Appeal of Singapore) and K Shanmugam'84 (Law Minister of Singapore). Originally conceived as an intramural of sorts in Harvard, the competition greatly expanded in scope and scale around the turn of the century. It simulates proceedings before the International Court of Justice and is administered by the International Law Students Association.
The moot problem is typically based on contemporary issues of international law; for instance, the 2021 problem was about state responses to a global pandemic. Judges in the international rounds include judges of international tribunals, special rapporteurs, and leading academics in international law. Exhibition rounds are occasionally held for teams that did not qualify from their national or regional rounds. Due to travel restrictions brought about by COVID-19, the 2019/20 edition was cancelled, and the 2020/21 edition held online with a modified global format that allowed all registered teams to participate in the international rounds over a series of extended preliminary rounds. The 2021/22 edition saw the return of binding national rounds, while the international rounds continued to be held online, but with the preservation of the expanded format. In 2022/23, in-person international rounds resumed.
In 2014, White & Case commissioned the making of All Rise: Journeys to a Just World, a 90-minute documentary on the Jessup Moot. The film premiered in New York, a first for a film about international moot court competitions.
Established: 1960; 1968 for international rounds
Venue (international rounds): Washington DC
Record number of participants: 675 teams (2014)
Subject matter: Public international law; international human rights; international humanitarian law
Qualification process: National and regional rounds where applicable, with rigid geographical caps
Prep window: September to April
Comp duration (international rounds): 7 days, with socio-academic events included
Maximum team size: 5
Team anonymity: Yes
Format (international rounds): Stand-up, 4 issues, 2 speakers, 45 minutes (including 1-speaker rebuttal); 4-8 prelim rounds, knockouts from 48/32 with power seeding; 9,500-word (incl fn) pleadings for each side
Memorial weightage: 1/3 till semi-final
Advanced round qualification priority: Win-loss
Registration fee: 250 to 900 USD per team
Repeat participation: Allowed
Multiple teams from same institution: Not allowed
Most championships: University of Sydney (5 + 1 online)
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Past winners
Final four (no of teams)
2024 (~650): University of the Philippines; Universidad Torcuato di Tella; Oxford University; Universidade de Sao Paulo
2023 (~650): University of Amsterdam; Peking University; Singapore Management University; China University of Political Science and Law
2022 (online): Harvard University; Singapore Management University; Universidad Autonoma Nacional de Mexico; Universidade de Sao Paulo
2021 (online): University of Sydney; National University of Singapore; National Law University Odisha; University of San Carlos
2019 (~ 600): Eotvos Lorand University; Columbia University; Yale University; National University of Singapore
2018 (~ 600): University of Queensland; National Law School of India University; Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile; King's College London
2017 (650): University of Sydney; Norman Manley Law School; National Law University Odisha; University of Western Ontario
2016 (~600): University of Bueno Aires; University of Pennsylvania; Columbia University; King's College London
2015 (~ 600): University of Sydney; Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile; University of Western Australia; Oxford University
2014 (675): University of Queensland; Singapore Management University; Columbia University; King's College London
2013 (632): National Law School of India University; Singapore Management University; Columbia University; University of Bueno Aires
2012 (605): Moscow State University; Columbia University; Auckland University; University of the Philippines
2011 (~ 600): University of Sydney; Columbia University; Norman Manley Law School; National University of Singapore
2010 (~ 600): Australian National University; Columbia University; NALSAR University; University of Ljubljana
2009 (~ 600): Universidad de los Andes; University College London; Aristotle University; University of Bueno Aires
2008 (~ 600): Case Western Reserve University; University of New South Wales; National Law School of India University; University College London
2007 (~ 600): University of Sydney; King's College London; National University of Singapore; University of Queensland
2006 (565): Columbia University; Universidad Catolica Andres Bello; NALSAR University; University of Cape Town
2005 (543): University of Queensland; International Islamic University; American University; University of Bueno Aires
2004 (524): Ateneo Law School; National University of Singapore; Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico; University of Vienna
2003 (481): University of Western Australia; Mari State University; Columbia University; Universidad Catolica Andres Bello
2002 (384): University of the Witwatersrand; University of Western Australia; University of Otago; Harvard University
2001 (309): National University of Singapore; Universidad Catolica Andres Bello; University of Virginia; Bond University
2000 (287): University of Melbourne; Universidad Catolica Andres Bello; Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico; Law Society of Ireland
1999 (275): National Law School of India University; University of Pretoria; Universidad Catolica Andres Bello; Bond University
1998 (275): Universidad Autonoma Nacional de Mexico; Australian National University; University of Canterbury; National University of Singapore
1997 (280): Universidad Catolica Andres Bello; University of Calgary; Kerala Law Academy; Law Society of Ireland
1996 (300): University of Sydney; National University of Singapore
1995 (259): University of the Philippines; University of Western Australia; University of San Diego; Dr Ambedkar Government Law College
1994 (269): National University of Singapore; University of Melbourne; University of Georgia; University of Vienna
1993 (261): University of Melbourne; University of Hawaii; University of British Columbia; National University of Singapore
1992 (242): Universite de Paris I; National University of Singapore; University of Washington; McGill University
1991 (243): University of Saskatchewan; University of Georgia; University of Sydney; University of Malaya
1990 (253): University of Georgia; University of Toronto; University of Melbourne; National University of Singapore
1989 (259): University of British Columbia; University of Melbourne; New York University; University of the Philippines
1988 (265): University of Melbourne; National University of Singapore; Columbia University; Leiden University
1987 (268): Georgetown University; Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
1986 (214): Boston College; National University of Singapore
1985 (213): National University of Singapore; Southwestern University
1984 (197): Dalhousie University; South Texas College of Law
1983 (206): University of Kansas; National University of Singapore
1982 (197): National University of Singapore; University of the Pacific
1981 (181): Australian National University; University of the Pacific
1980 (196): Georgetown University; National University of Singapore
1979 (187): Northwestern University; University of Adelaide
1978 (154): Brooklyn Law School; University of Toronto
1977 (157): University of Kansas; University of Toronto
1976 (134): University of Toronto; American University
1975 (119): University of Cambridge; Georgetown University
1974 (103): University of Texas; Haile Selassie I University
1973 (94): West Virginia University; Brunel University
1972 (99): University of Miami; Haile Selassie I University
1971 (73): University of Texas; University of California at Davis
1970 (56): University of Miami; University of Kentucky
1969 (40): Rutgers University-University of Michigan (tie)
1968 (32): Duke University; University of Miami
Best oralist (prelims)
2024: Emory University
2023: Case Western Reserve University
2022 (online): University of the Philippines; Case Western Reserve University
2021 (online):
National University of Singapore; Columbia University
2019:
Yale University
2018:
University of Hong Kong
2017:
Auckland University
2016:
National University of Singapore
2015: University of Sydney
2014:
University of Ottawa
2013:
University of New South Wales
2012:
University of Melbourne
2011: New York University
2010:
New York University
2009:
Columbia University
2008:
University College London
2007:
University of Indonesia
2006: University of Washington
2005:
University of Calgary
2004:
University of Georgia
2003:
University of Western Australia
2002:
University of Illinois
2001:
Universidad Catolica Andres Bello
2000:
Napier University and University of Sydney
1999:
Universite de Paris I
1998:
University of Sydney
1997:
University of Western Australia
1996:
University of Sydney
1995:
University of British Columbia
1994:
University of the Witwatersrand
1993:
University of Hawaii
1992: University of Kiel
1991: University of San Diego
1990:
University of Toronto and Boston College
1989:
National University of Singapore
1988: National University of Singapore
1987: McGill University
1986: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
1985: Monash University
1984: Dalhousie University
1983: University of Toronto
1982: University of Montreal
1981: Australian National University
1980: Leiden University
1979: University of the Philippines
1978: University of Adelaide
1977: University of Toronto
1976:
National University of Singapore
1975:
University of Cambridge and University of the Philippines
1974: Haile Selassie I University
1973: Bombay University
1972: University of Miami and University of Texas
1971: University of Texas
1970: University of Miami
1969: University of Michigan
1968: Duke University
Best oralist (final)
2024: University of the Philippines
2023: University of Amsterdam
2022 (online): Harvard University
2021 (online):
National University of Singapore
2019:
Eotvos Lorand University
2018:
National Law School of India University
2017:
University of Sydney
2016: University of Bueno Aires
2015:
University of Sydney
2014: University of Queensland
2013:
National Law School of India University
2012:
Columbia University
2011:
Columbia University
2010:
Columbia University
2009: Universidad de los Andes
2008:
Case Western Reserve University
2007:
University of Sydney
2006: Columbia University
2005:
International Islamic University
2004:
National University of Singapore
2003:
University of Western Australia
2002:
University of Western Australia
2001:
National University of Singapore
2000: University of Melbourne
1999:
University of Pretoria
1998:
Australian National University
1997:
Universidad Catolica Andres Bello
1996:
National University of Singapore
1995: University of Western Australia
1994:
University of Melbourne
1993:
University of Melbourne
1992:
Universite de Paris I
1991:
University of Georgia
1990:
University of Toronto
1989:
University of British Columbia
1988:
University of Melbourne
1987:
Georgetown University
1986: Boston College
1985: National University of Singapore
1984:
Dalhousie University
1983:
University of Kansas
1982:
National University of Singapore
1981: Australian National University
1980:
National University of Singapore
1979:
University of Adelaide
1978:
Brooklyn Law School
1977: University of Kansas
1976:
University of Toronto
1975:
University of Cambridge
1974: University of Texas
1973: West Virginia University
1972: Haile Selassie I University
1971: University of Texas
1970: University of Kentucky
Best memorial (A)
2023: Harvard University
2022: University of Geneva
2021:
University of Pennsylvania
2019: National Law University, Jodhpur
2018: University of San Carlos
2017: University of the Philippines
2016: Columbia University
2015: University of National and World Economy
2014: University of Queensland
2013: Universite de Luxembourg
2012: National Law School of India University
2011: Universidad de lose Andes
2010:
National University of Singapore
2009:
King's College London
2008: Ateneo Law School
2007: University of Bueno Aires
2006: Hong Kong University
2005: Universidad Catolica Andres Bello
2004: Universidad Catolica Andres Bello
2003: Universidad Catolica Andres Bello
2002: University of Otago
2001: New England School of Law
2000: University of Alabama
1999: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
1998: University of Hawaii
1996: National University of Singapore
1995: University of Alabama
1994: International Islamic University
1993: University of Minnesota
1992: University of the Pacific
1991: University of Georgia
1990: South Texas College of Law
1989: University of British Columbia
1988: Southern Illinois University
1987: National University of Singapore
1986: Boston College
1985: Monash University
1984: Freie Universitaet
1983: Fordham University
1982: National University of Singapore
1981: University of Georgia
1980: University of Washington
1979: University of the Philippines
1978: University of Toronto
This is the list for Baxter (or equivalent) prizes.
Best memorial (R)
2023: Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law
2022: Singapore Management University
2021: University of Munster
2019: Auckland University
2018: University of Pretoria
2017: University of Queensland
2016: Columbia University
2015: University of Pennsylvania
2014: Universitas Pelita Harapan
2013: National Law University, Delhi
2012: Columbia University
2011: Xiamen University
2010: Australian National University
2009: University of Sydney
2008: University of Ottawa
2007: Washington University in Saint Louis
2006: University of Kiel
2005: Columbia University
2004: University of Queensland
2003: Bond University
2002: Harvard University
2001: University of Vienna
2000: International Islamic University
1999: University of Saskatchewan
1998: University of Hawaii
1996: University of Vienna
1995: University of Hawaii
1994: University of Alabama
1993: Dr Ambedkar Government Law College
1992: University of Washington
1991: University of Georgia
1990: University of Melbourne
1989: University of British Columbia
1988: Southern Illinois University
1987: National University of Singapore
1986: Boston College
1985: Monash University
1984: Freie Universitaet
1983: Fordham University
1982: Fordham University
1981: Washington and Lee University
1980: University of Washington
1979: University of the Philippines
1978: University of Toronto
This is the list for Baxter (or equivalent) prizes.