Informationsveranstaltung des Jessup Moot Courts

Call for Applications – Jessup Moot Court, Jena

Dear students,

We are thrilled to announce that the University of Jena will once again send a team to the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, which will take place during the winter semester 2025/26.

The Jessup Competition is the most prestigious and well-known Public International Law Moot Court Competition worldwide. Jessup challenges participants to assume the role of legal counsel for two fictitious states involved in a dispute before the International Court of Justice. This year’s case will raise issues concerning the rights of indigenous people regarding rare earth minerals found on their land, the general principles of law, and the economic harm caused by the citizens of one state to those of a foreign state.

The competition is entirely in English and is a priceless opportunity to develop your research, legal writing, and public speaking skills and connect with many people who share a passion for international law. Additionally, participation in Jessup can be counted as a Probeseminararbeit and a language certificate. Erasmus students can earn up to 15 ECTS by participating. The semester during which a student engages in Jessup does not count in the Studienzeit and therefore does not affect deadlines regarding Zwischenprüfung and Freischuss.

The Jessup competition consists of two parts: The written memorial stage and the oral rounds. During the first months, students will write two fully referenced memorials for Applicant and Respondent, suggesting compelling arguments for their States. Further, students will undergo intensive training to represent their assigned states in the oral pleadings effectively. The students’ memorials and pleadings are evaluated by legal experts, including judges from the International Court of Justice, practising lawyers, and law professors. Finally, the team will participate in the German national rounds, from which the best teams will proceed to the International Rounds, held in Washington, D.C.

Balthasar Baumann, Katharina Preller, Polina Kulish, and Evandro Süssekind (Jessup Coaches), based at the Chair of International Law, will coach Jena's team and be mentored by Prof. Dr. Isabelle Ley.

To apply for Jessup, please send your CV in English (which should include a functioning phone number for easy communication) to jessup@uni-jena.de. In addition, please send a letter of motivation and an overview of your academic achievements.

The deadline for applications is 27 June at 11:59 p.m. Applicants should be interested in Public International Law and have a good command of the English language. Previous experience in public speaking is an asset.

Want to learn more about Jessup? Join our info event on 17 June at 4:00 p.m. (sharp) at SR 274, CSZ 3 or online via Zoom:

https://zoom.us/j/97375911896?pwd=LaVCk56bHbqRkKMFD0gQRIFfvCz49X.1Externer Link 
Meeting ID: 973 7591 1896 
Password: 123456

Feel free to email us if you have any further questions. We are looking forward to your applications and to a new Jessup season.

Kind regards,
Balthasar Baumann, Katharina Preller, Polina Kulish and Evandro Süssekind (Jessup Coaches)