Student mooters in new Jessup Cup world record

This past Easter long weekend, our Jessup Team were named world champions at the prestigious White and Case Philip C Jessup International Law Moot Competition in Washington DC.

The achievement by Alyssa Glass (Juris Doctor), Will Khun (Arts/Law), Joel Phillips (Juris Doctor), Eric Shi (Arts/Law) and Harry Stratton (Science/Law) now means the University of Sydney has won the coveted Jessup Cup a record five times, a feat no other law school in the world has achieved.

“This is a remarkable and significant achievement,” said the Dean, Professor Joellen Riley.

“Their victory not only reflects their outstanding talents as mooters but the exemplary work and dedication of their wonderful coach, Angus Nicholas (Arts/Law) and their academic mentor, Dr Alison Pert.”

After navigating their way through the international rounds, the team secured victories against opposition from India and Canada in the Quarter-Final and Semi-Final respectively, before they faced the team from Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica.

Before a judging panel consisting of former Dean, Judge James Crawford and Judge Patrick Robinson, both from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and former ICJ Judge Bruno Simma, the team emerged victorious, with Alyssa Glass named as best oralist in the final.

Professor Tim Stephens, Professor of International Law at the Sydney Law School, said the team’s performance was despite the growing competitiveness of the Jessup Moot.

“I have been involved with the Jessup for almost 20 years and each year it gets more challenging as hundreds of law schools around the globe seek to showcase their best and brightest students and the quality of the teaching and instruction they receive in advocacy and international law,” he said.

“No other law school can match our students’ record of achievement in this remarkable competition.” 

The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition features a fictitious case before the International Court of Justice, with two teams representing the opposing states making oral submissions for 90 minutes.

The competition began in the US in 1960, and has grown to become the world's largest moot court competition, with participants from over 550 law schools in more than 87 countries.

The world championship win follows previous victories by Sydney Law School teams in 2015, 2011, 2007 and 1996.

Related coverage: Jessup glory for USYD law squad - Lawyers Weekly