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Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition

Washington DC

The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition was established in 1960 and is the world's largest moot court competition, with participants from around 700 law schools in 100 countries and jurisdictions.  The Competition is a simulation of a fictional dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the United Nations.  Successful teams at the UK national rounds in London go on to compete in the White & Case international rounds in Washington, DC. 

You can read about the 2024 Edinburgh Law School’s Jessup successes here: Edinburgh Law School’s Jessup team excels in international rounds 

The 2025 problem and rules can be found here: ILSA - Jessup 2025 

Visit the International Law Students Association (ILSA) website for full details

  • Dongjoon Lee, Edinburgh Law School PhD candidate 
  • Wurie Bah, Edinburgh Law School LLM students
  • Keito Mizuno, Edinburgh Law School LLM students

The selection process will include a 30-minute interview where the interviewee will have to prepare and present an argument on a previous problem, which will be emailed in advance.  This will then be followed by specific questions regarding the interviewee’s arguments, and general questions regarding time commitment, experience and motivation.

The selection process will be completed by late September and a total of six team members will be chosen.

There are two rounds: the UK national rounds, which will likely take place over 2 days in London (usually at the White & Case office). If the national rounds are won, the team will progress to the international rounds, held at the Hyatt Regency in Washington, D.C. (USA).

UK national rounds are usually held in early- to mid-February. Final rounds will be early- to mid-April in Washington, D.C.

Jessup engages with all fields of public international law ranging from human rights law to environmental law and international economic law. Applicable areas of law to the 2024 problem include: law of the sea, law of the treaties, personal and State immunity.

Essential: public international law

Recommended: law of the treaties, international environmental law, international economic law

Jessup Competition
...the Jessup has the ability to really change your life – the experiences you have and skills you learn throughout this moot will stay with you beyond your university studies and will shape the lawyer and person you become.
Matilde Masetti Placci
Coach, 2023 Edinburgh Law School Jessup Moot Court Team