From 21-23 February the University of Glasgow Jessup team competed in the UK national rounds of the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, reaching the semi-finals, qualifying for the international rounds in Washington DC. Glasgow will be representing the U.K. together with UCL, Inner Temple and Oxford.

The Jessup is the world’s largest mooting competition – this year over 800 teams are participating. For the 24 UK teams competing, there is a qualifying round held in Lincoln’s Inn in London. The moot problem is based on a fictional inter-State case before the International Court of Justice. Teams are required to submit two written memorials (Applicant and Respondent) of 9,500 words, as well as deliver oral submissions.

After the four preliminary rounds, the Glasgow team came 4th of the 24 teams who showed up to compete. Glasgow knocked out Liverpool (5th placed) in the quarter finals before being beaten in the semi-finals by the eventual winners, UCL. Overall, the team were 4th on final rankings.

The team was comprised of Katie Bourner (4th year LLB), Laia Harman (LLM), Amelia Lockhart-Hourigan (accelerated common law LLB), Jodie Hofford (4th year LLB), and Elisa Pulzoni (accelerated common law LLB). All the team were oralists. Together they ranked 6th for the memorials. Last but not least, all 5 speakers were among the top 30 oralists, and Elisa was ranked 2nd overall as an oralist.

The team have put in an incredible amount of work and have really pushed themselves to make it.

The team is coached by GCILS members Dr Matina Papadaki, Dr Joseph Crampin and Dr James Devaney, as well as PhD candidate Joséphine Sangaré, who are extremely proud of the team both in terms of their performance and in the way that they have pulled together as a team.

Thanks to GCILS colleagues Eleni Methymaki and Dr Henry Lovat, and to external guests Paul McKell and Emma Hutchison from the FCDO, and Margaret Driscoll (who competed last year for Edinburgh) for guest judging the team in the lead up to the competition.

Now the hard work for Washington begins.