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Moot Court Public International Law

Vak
2018-2019

Please note that the following description of the course is only provisional and therefore subject to change.

Admission requirements

This course is intended for law students and requires a good working knowledge of public international law. Dutch students can only participate if there are seats left.

Description

The course Moot Court Public International Law offers students skills training in research, analysis, legal writing and advocacy through the participation in an international law litigation simulation.

Since 1992 Leiden University has an extensive and successful Moot Court programme. All law students in Leiden have to complete a compulsory Moot Court course in civil law, criminal law, administrative law, European law or public international law. It is one of the few courses directed to obtain skills essential for lawyers: tackling legal problems in a structured way. The course includes a library instruction, lectures in argumentation, writing assignments, presentation skills training and concludes with a Moot Court session.
The course Moot Court LLC Public International Law is intended for exchange students studying in Leiden and offers students an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of a particular issue in international law. The case problem distributed to the students presents a hypothetical lawsuit between two countries before the International Court of Justice. Issues can include the use of force, cyber warfare, diplomatic and consular relations, environmental law, state responsibility and law of the sea. The course serves as an excellent preparation for a Moot Court competition in any field of law.

Course objectives

Objectives of the course
Students will learn to present a well-structured argument, both in writing and orally.

Achievement levels
The following achievement levels apply with regard to the course:

  • The student is able to write a memo concerning a specific legal question.

  • The student is able to make a persuasive oral presentation before a panel of three judges/practitioners/experts.

Timetable

The course includes three plenary sessions and a library instruction (Tuesdays and Fridays), on 4, 7, 11, and 14 September at 11.00-13.00. Tutorials will be on Thursdays or Fridays. A detailed timetable will be made available on Blackboard.

Mode of instruction

Lectures

  • Number of (2 hour) lectures: 3

  • Names of lecturers: Ms. E. Kentin

  • Required preparation by students: to be announced

Tutorials

  • Number of (1/2 hour) tutorials: 3

  • Names of instructors: Ms. E. Kentin

  • Required preparation by students: writing assignments

Other methods of instruction

  • Description: Presentation skills training

  • Number of (2 hour) instructions: 5

  • Names of instructors: to be announced

  • Required preparation by students: instructions in the syllabus

Assessment method

Examination form(s)

  • Partial exams in the form of writing assignments: list of arguments (12%), memorial (36%), memorandum of oral pleading (24%). Only the list of arguments can be retaken (maximum grade in this case is a 6). The weighted average of the writing assignments should be above 5.5 to proceed to the oral exam.

  • Final examination in the form of an oral exam: presentation before a Moot Court of three judges (28%). Only in exceptional circumstances this oral exam can be retaken.

Submission procedures
Upload via Blackboard. See for further information the syllabus.

Areas to be tested within the exam
General knowledge of and case specific, in-depth knowledge of international law. Writing, presentation and argumentation skills.

Blackboard

More information on this course is offered in Blackboard.

Reading list

Obligatory course materials

Syllabus:

Recommended course materials

  • C Kee, The Art of Argument (CUP2006)

  • CE Schjatvet and Z Hafez, ILSA Guide to International Law Moot Court Competition (ILSA 2003)

  • SI Strong, How to write law essays and exams (3rd edn, OUP, 2010)

Registration

Maximum of 32 students.Students have to register for this course through the Office of International Education. Exchange students have priority and will be registered for the course first. Any remaining seats will be available for law students from Leiden University and other Dutch Universities.

Contact information

  • Co-ordinator: Ms. Esther Kentin

  • Work address: KOG, Room A311

  • Contact information: Moot Court Secretariat A319.

  • Telephone number: 071 5275358/1985

  • E-mail: e.kentin@law.leidenuniv.nl

Institution/division

  • Institute: Institute for Interdisciplinary Study of Law

  • Department: Moot Court and Advocacy

  • Room number Secretariat: A319

  • Opening hours: Monday to Friday 08:30-16:00

  • Telephone number Secretariat: 071 5271985

  • E-mail: mootcourt@law.leidenuniv.nl

Remarks

None.