Athens PIL members supervise and coach teams representing the Law School of Athens in a series of international student Moot Court competitions in the fields of Public International Law, Law of the Sea, Human Rights, Humanitarian Law, European Law, International Criminal Law, Space Law, Air Law, Trade Law, and International Commercial and Investment Arbitration.
A Moot Court is a simulation of trial or arbitration, in which students compete in English, on a case involving complex legal issues, acting as lawyers representing the applicant, the respondent or the parties of an arbitration. They answer questions asked by the judges and challenge the arguments of their opponents. Some competitions also require the contestants to submit written memoranda or legal sources relevant to their argumentation. Law Professors and eminent legal practitioners are sitting as "Judges" in the competiton. Competitors are graded on the basis of specific criteria and the best teams and speakers are awarded team and individual awards, as well as best written memoranda awards.
Moot Courts are based on the study and application of the law of a particular discipline and follow their own rules of trial or arbitrage conduct. They constitute an excellent educational tool for familiarizing students with legal research, oral argumentation and time management, by cultivating skills necessary to lawyers, such as analytical and synthetic legal thinking and accuracy in expression. These international competitions bring students into contact with the global community of lawyers and the latest legal developments, broadening their horizons, enhancing fair competition and strenghtening cooperation between Universities.
Athens PIL Moot Court teams have obtained a significant number of awards (see here).
For their participation in such competitions, students prepare alongside their other academic obligations, over several months, with the assistance of their Professors and older students acting as coaches. Regarding the selection and preparation of the student groups, announcements are posted on the Law School's website each academic year. Below you can find more information on moot court competitions in which Athens PIL teams traditionally participate:
Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
European Human Rights Moot Court Competition
John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition on World Trade Organization Law
Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition
Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot
Foreign Direct Investment International Arbitration Moot