Yunnan University hosts renowned moot court competition

The 17th Chinese National Round for the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court takes place at Yunnan University on Feb 23. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

Yunnan University (YNU) hosted the 17th Chinese National Round for the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court from Feb 23 to 25. 

The three-day event saw more than 80 volunteers from YNU, of which more than 10 of whom were lecturers and professors from the university's law school, provide services for it. 

Delegations from 51 universities, including the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, Tsinghua University, People's University of China, China University of Political Science and Law, Wuhan University, and YNU, attended the competition. 

Over 10 judges, lawyers, and scholars from China, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Japan, and Malaysia were invited to serve as judges for the competition. 

At the opening ceremony, Liu Xiaojiang, vice-president of YNU, delivered a speech in which he extended a cordial welcome to all who came to participate in the event. 

After a preliminary race, eight teams from China University of Political Science and Law, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, University of International Business and Economics, Peking University, East China University of Political Science and Law, Wuhan University, and Beijing Normal University made it to the final.

On Feb 25, the delegation from the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences won the championship at the final. 

It is the first time that YNU students attended the competition, and the university’s contestants won the award for Best Performance.

The competition rules that the top six winners at the Chinese round of the competition will have qualifications to take part in the international round held in Washington D.C. in April. 

Organized by the International Law Students Association, the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court is the world's largest moot court competition, with participants from over 680 law schools in 100 countries and jurisdictions. The competition is a simulation of a fictional dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice and the judicial organ of the United Nations. Teams prepare oral and written arguments for both the applicant and respondent positions of the case.

Judges listen to oral arguments from participants at the 17th Chinese National Round for the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court, which was held at Yunnan University on Feb 23. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

The certificate honoring YNU participants at the competition is shown. [Photo/ynu.eud.cn]

Attendees of the 17th Chinese National Round for the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court pose for a group photograph. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]