Master's students from the MLaw, MLE, MIA and MIL programmes can participate in the annual ICC Moot Court. Participation in this moot court in international criminal law offers a unique contribution to legal education in the field of international law and international relations.
Applications for participation in the Moot Court 2024-25 are possible from now on (July 2024). Please write to Ms. Georgina Howe, georginalouise.howe@unisg.ch
For more information, see further below the call for applications and the experience reports of the previous teams.
Every year, about 100 teams from all over the world participate in the International Criminal Court (ICC) Moot Court Competition in The Hague, simulating the proceedings of the International Criminal Court in a fictitious dispute. The competition involves collaboration with judges from international courts and tribunals, professors of international law and international criminal law, and other legal professionals. This network makes the ICC Moot Court Competition a realistic simulation of ICC proceedings.
Each team consists of three to five students, and has to argue on behalf of the Prosecutor, the Defense Counsel, the Government Counsel, or the Legal Representative of the Victims. The teams compete with one another in writing memorials and in pleading in front of the judges. The entire competition takes place in English.
Students learn from each other and improve their presentation and debating skills. This is a unique chance to gain a lot of practical and very useful experience in international law – both international criminal law and general international law. Furthermore, students get a first-hand knowledge of the working of the most important institutions in international criminal law. They meet distinguished international jurists and practitioners who give helpful guidance and feedback. Additionally, the competition unites law students from all over the world who share an interest in international criminal law and related fields of international law (like human rights law and international humanitarian law). Students intensily work together, while forging strong international bonds which can promote their future careers and create new friendships. If you are interested in international law, and in particular international criminal law, this is now your opportunity to apply and participate in this great competition.
Students prepare for the writing of the memorials by familiarizing themselves with general principles of international criminal law, and by studying and discussing important issues of the case as soon as it has been published by the organizers of the competition.
After intensive research, students independently develop their memorials and improve them until the submission date.
After handing in the memorials to the competition, the team will start preparing the oral pleadings. The members must learn how to argue convincingly and successfully before an international court. Only with good debating skills and a profound knowledge of the facts and the applicable law can the judges be convinced.
Three of the maximum five participating students will each plead for a different side, while being supported by the other team members.
Applicants should have a basic knowledge of public international law and good English language skills. Interested students cannot enroll for the course in the HSG bidding system but must apply for participation with the chair of Prof. Fassbender by sending in a short letter of motivation and a CV.
Shortly after the application deadline, interviews with the applicants will take place. An applicant’s motivation and skills (both in international law and in the English language) are important issues in these interviews. However, there are not any rigid rules for the selection of participants. Accordingly, everybody is encouraged to apply (irrespective of grades attained so far) who is willing to participate actively and joyfully in the work of the HSG team. Please consider applying even if you think that your knowledge in international criminal law is not yet good enough. During the competition you will learn a lot more. Being part of the Moot Court team can truly be a once-in-a-life-time experience! However, work is time-consuming, which also is the reason why 15 ECTS credits are assigned for participation in the course.
HSG guest students are expressly encouraged to apply. If you are studying in St. Gallen for only one semester, you will only be able to participate during the fall term. In that case, the examination will consist of writing an essay about one of the legal issues in the present Moot Court case.
ICC Moot Court Call for applications 2024