UTS Law win prestigious national Jessup Mooting competition

UTS Law students Nicole Araya, Robin Evans, Margaret Hegna, Isabel Munro and Andelain Newman formed the 2021 UTS Law Jessup moot team, and were led to victory by the faculty’s resident expert, Dr Kathryn Greenman.

Launched in 1960, the Philip C Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is the largest and most prestigious mooting competition in the world. The competition attracts more than 650 law schools from 100 countries and jurisdictions. 

This year’s competition case concerned a dispute about border closures during a global pandemic, a whistle-blower seeking asylum in diplomatic premises, and the shooting down of a civilian aircraft. It raised many complex issues of international law across a number of fields.

The UTS team progressed through preliminary rounds and semi-finals undefeated, and secured the win against the University of Western Australia team in the final, which was judged by Justice James Edelman of the High Court, Justice Francois Kunc of the New South Wales Supreme Court and Dr Sarah McCosker of Lexbridge Lawyers.

To go through the competition undefeated was ultimately extremely satisfying. It was a hugely rewarding experience and the skills we have accrued from analysing what several judges called an ‘unusually complex’ problem should hold us in good stead for the future. 

– Robin Evans

The UTS team also won prizes for best applicant memorial and best overall memorials. Margaret Hegna won best speaker in the grand final and second-best speaker in the preliminary rounds. Robin Evans was ninth-best speaker in the preliminary rounds, and Andelain Newman received an honourable mention.

Dr Kathryn Greenman said, “I am immensely proud of the team’s history-making achievement. It is a testament to their hard work, talent and team spirit, as well as a tribute to the quality of our law school. I am looking forward to seeing the team represent UTS on the international stage.”

The team are now preparing for the global rounds of the competition, to be held over Zoom, which start in March.

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