Moot Court Competitions

The faculty encourages its students to take part in studies in the format of a moot court, since it allows to experience writing legal memorandums and in their oral presentation, on a wide range of possible legal fields and relating complex and challenging issues. A prime example is the annual Israeli law moot court taking part in the faculty, in front of a wide audience in the faculty's moot court room. Another moot court is taken place as part of the course dealing with the law of ethics, which is dedicated to the late Adv. Yona Blatman, the former State Attorney of Israel and a graduate of the faculty.

On the competitive level, since 2006 students of the faculty are taking part in the biggest public international law moot court competition – the Phillip C. Jessup competition - and also in the national competition on International Humanitarian Law held by the International Committee of the Red Cross in Israel, the International Criminal Court competition and the C. VIS moot arbitration competition.

ICRC National Competition

The National IHL Competition is a four-day event organized by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent delegation in Israel. During the competition, teams of three students from different Israeli academic institutions participate in several rounds of simulations that not only test their knowledge of international humanitarian law but also their ability to apply it to real-life situations (such as giving legal advice on the legitimacy of bombing a bridge which is used to transport weapons to enemy troops but is also essential to the delivery of essential food supplies to the civilian population). 

The object and purpose of the event is to educate and familiraise students with the different aspects and delicate balances within IHL. The students are not only required to acquire a vast knowledge in international law and in particular in IHL, but they also to learn how to advocate such rules in accordance with their role in the simulations.The object and purpose of the event is to educate and familiraise students with the different aspects and delicate balances within IHL. The students are not only required to acquire a vast knowledge in international law and in particular in IHL, but they also to learn how to advocate such rules in accordance with their role in the simulations. 

The winning team will receive the IHL Competition Award and will be granted a prize by the organizing committee - sponsorship to the Pictet international IHL competition (provided that the team applies and is admitted to the latter competition separately). It is noteworthy that ever since the beginning of the national competition, at least one Israeli team has managed to get admitted to the international competition. Moreover, the Israeli national competition has produced the winning team of the international competition in 2010 and 2011 (the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya) and in 2012 the two teams respresnting Israeli academic institutions have made it to the semi-final (Hebrew University and Interdisciplinary Center). 

Troughout the years, many team representing Israeli academic institutions have participated in the competition (including Haifa University, Tel-Aviv University, Bar-Ilan University, Hebrew University, Sha'arei Mishpat College, Ramat-Gan College, Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, Ono Academic College and College of Management). 

Each participating team is trained by coaches provided by their hosting academic institutions and are granted academic points for their participation in the competition. 

Jessup Moot Court Competition

About Jessup

The Phillip C. Jessup Moot Court Competition is the largest and most prestigious moot court competition in the world. Students from more than 80 countries and 550 law schools compete each year in regional competitions for the distinction of proceeding to the International Rounds. Held every spring in Washington, D.C, the International Rounds are conducted together with the Annual Conference of theAmerican Society of International Law (ASIL). The Competition is organized by the International Law Student Association (ILSA). Simulating a fictional dispute between States brought before the International Court of Justice – the judicial organ of the United Nations – the competition requires each participating team to prepare detailed oral and written pleadings, arguing both the applicant and respondent positions of the case.

 

Thousands of law students from all around the world work yearlong on the Jessup problem, which tackles crucial questions of international law. Only one Israeli team can advance to the international rounds. Usually, a national competition is held annually in Tel Aviv for the purpose of determining which school team should proceed. The Hebrew University has participated in Jessup since 2007, and has since claimed the uninterrupted honour of proceeding to the International Championships. Hebrew University students have additionally demonstrated to be extremely talented in their international performances. In 2008, they achieved sixth place (from approximately 90 teams) in the preliminary rounds, and advanced automatically to the octo-final rounds; whilst in 2009 the Hebrew University team was rated amongst the top twenty-four teams (from approximately 110 teams), and went on to participate in the advanced rounds. Several team members have also been entered on the list of the top 100 oralists, and the team's memorials were graded among the top 15 (11th place in 2008, 13th place in 2009). The 2010-2011 team won all four rounds in the preliminary stages and was ranked 8. The team went to compete in the advanced rounds and for the first time in the Faculty’s history made it to the quarter-finals. Their written memorials were ranked among the top 10 best written submission (10th place). The 2011-2012 team continued this tradition of success, finishing the preliminary rounds in 7th place and its written submissions being ranked 6th. More recently, the 2012-2013 team equalled the University's record by reaching the quarter-finals of the competition – losing to the competition finalists – in a year in which over 550 institutions around the world participated. For the first time, all the University's oralists eligible for ranking finished in the top 50. Most recently, the 2013-2014 Hebrew University team narrowly lost on a split decision to the finalist team in the competition. Competition organizers and judges have been repeatedly and deeply impressed by the excellent performance of Hebrew University students.

 

For more information, see the Jessup site: http://www.ilsa.org/jessup

 

Hebrew University Teams

Hebrew University Jessup teams consist of 4 to 5 specially selected students from the Faculty of Law, who spend the year receiving intensive training in International Law. Particular attention is paid to improving research, writing, and litigation skills of contestants under the tutelage of Adv Tal Mimran and Ori Pomson (2014-2015).

 

After committing themselves to a period of substantial research during the fall semester, the Jessup team prepares written memorials addressed to the International Court of Justice based on the competition’s case (the Compromis). The team then presents oral arguments at the Regional Competition in Tel Aviv, which takes place in February of the competition year. The team who wins the Regional Competition proceeds to the International Rounds in Washington D.C.

 

If you are interested in pursuing an opportunity to partake in Jessup please contact Ori Pomson at:  ori.pomson@mail.huji.ac.il

 

The Current Team 2014-2015

 

Coaches: Adv. Tal Mimran and Ori Pomson

 

 

Talila Devir

Talila is a second year student in the joint law and international relations program at the Hebrew University. For the past year and a half, Talila has been volunteering at the Jerusalem centre for assisting refugees and asylum seekers in realising their rights. Talila studied for two years at an international high school in Costa Rica which is part of the United World College education movement. During these two years, Talila volunteered in a number of programs, including clown care in Nicaragua, providing sports activities for persons with disabilities through the Special Olympics program and teaching Hebrew at the international school. Talila did her military service in a unit in the intelligence branch and also served as a commander in an advanced training course. During her service, Talila volunteered in providing educational assistance in the Mesila centre.
     
 

Tamar Drori

Tamar is a second year student in the joint law and international relations program at the Hebrew University. Tamar studied at the Mevo’ot Irron school, where she participate in the “Eina’im Aherot” program for promoting strengthening of ties between Jewish and Arab youths, which included her participating in delegation to New York. In addition, Tamar volunteered in the Magen David Adom organisation. Tamar served in the IDF Spokesperson Brigade, where she worked in the printed press department and alongside the most senior journalists and editors in Israel. Following her military service, Tamar volunteered for a number of months in a children’s centre in Arusha, Tanzania. In her first year at the Hebrew University, Tamar participated in the Model United Nations society and represented it in competitions. Additionally, Tamar participated in the Department of International Relation’s debate society.
     
 

Danny Rosenblatt

Danny is a third year student in the law faculty. He emigrated from the United States after high school, and following army service completed his bachelor’s degree in history at Bar Ilan University before commencing his legal studies at the Hebrew University. He represented the faculty at the annual European International Model United Nations (TEIMUN) in The Hague during his second year, where he was awarded best delegate. Danny currently serves as a member of the editorial board of Israel Law Review.
     
 

Daniel Shil Szriber

Daniel is an LL.M. student specialising in international law. Daniel graduated from the Law School of the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, Brazil. During his studies, he worked as an intern in different Brazilian law offices specialising in commercial law, M&A and arbitration. Additionally, as an undergraduate student, Daniel took part in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot as a researcher, speaker and assistant coach. Daniel was also a co-founder and the first vice-president of the Brazilian Association of Arbitration Students (ABEARB).
     
 

Nir Weintraub

Nir is a third year student at the Law Faculty and has received bachelor’s degrees in international relations and communication. Nir was born in Jerusalem and lived in the United States until the age of 10, when he returned to Jerusalem and where he has been living ever since. Nir did his military service in the Kfir Brigade. During his international relations studies, Nir participated in the International Committee of the Red Cross’ international humanitarian law competition, and two years later coached the Hebrew University team in this competition. Additionally, Nir worked as a teaching assistant in Hebrew University Department of International Relations’ international law course. Nir is currently a member of the Israel Law Review editorial board and has been active in the Law Faculty’s clinic for the rights of persons with disabilities. Nir also works in legal firm which focuses on constitutional and administrative law, in addition to being a research assistant on labour law in the Faculty.

ICC

The International Criminal Court Competition


The International Criminal Court, as the first permanent institution set up to try alleged perpetrators of the most horrific crimes against humanity, has drawn much interest amongst lawyers and non-lawyers alike. Nowhere is this more appropriate than amongst the lawyers and policy makers of the future. Thus, theInternational Criminal Law Network (ICLN) has developed the ICC Trial Competition. While there exist a number of established moot court competitions, the ICC Trial Competition is unique in its direct focus on ICC proceedings and international criminal law. In 2011, the International Criminal Court also recognized the ICLN ICC Trial Competition as the only official English International Criminal Court moot court competition in the world. The competition gives a wide scope of advocacy in allowing students not only to take on the role of prosecutor or defence counsel, but also that of victims' counsel. The judges are established and highly respected practitioners in the field of international criminal law and are comprised of both lawyers and internationally renowned judges from the ICC and ICTY themselves.


The purpose of the ICC Trial Competition is threefold:

  1. To allow top law students worldwide to improve their knowledge of international criminal law in practice, and in particular, the ICC and its proceedings.
  2. To provide students with the opportunity to become familiar with world-famous institutions in The Hague such as the ICC, the ICTY, the OPCW, the International Court of Justice and the Peace Palace Library.
  3. To enhance knowledge about the Rome Statute within countries that have yet to ratify it, by providing the top legal minds of the future from both Member and non Member States an opportunity to learn more about the ICC.


For the 2013 edition, a record number of 37 teams will be participating, from 27 countries worldwide! The 6th edition of the ICLN ICC Trial Competition will take place from 21 until 26 April 2013 in The Hague, the Netherlands. The finals of the Competition will take place at the ICC and will be adjudicated by actual ICC Judges!

In April 2013, Faculty students will participate in the 6th edition of the ICLN ICC Trial Competition at The Hague. This will be the second year in which faculty students participate in this competition: last year's team included Adam Shahaf, who is the assistant coach for this year's team. The team begun working this summer, but accelerated the pace of its work once it received the problem case in early November.