• Subject: European Human Rights Law

• Team composition: 2-4 students

• Format: Written round and oral rounds in two parts: regional rounds and final rounds

• Timeline: Problem release in September, Written arguments submission in December, regional rounds in different cities in Europe, and final round of 18 in Strasbourg, France in the spring.

The Helga Pedersen Moot Court is organised annually by the European Law Student Association (ELSA). It simulates procedures of a complaint before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The moot court has attracted over 80 law schools from Europe and other countries.

Past topics included freedom of expression online, responsibility for climate change, and freedom of assembly and association. It was formerly known as the ELSA Human Rights Moot Court Competition.

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• Subject: Public International Law (Volkenrecht)
  
• Team composition: 2-5 students
• Format: Written rounds and oral rounds in two parts: National rounds and International rounds
• Timeline: Topics released April; Problem released in mid-September.

Written arguments (memorials) submission in January, National Rounds (Brussels, White and Case law firm) in March, and International Rounds in Washington DC, USA, in April.

The Jessup is the world’s oldest and largest moot court on Public International Law. It is organised annually by the International Law Student Association (ILSA). Jessup teams present oral and written arguments on a fictitious dispute in simulated case before the International Court of Justice.

Past topics have included the responsibility of states in a global pandemic, foreign election interference, and nuclear disarmament obligations.

The 2023 Jessup problem will address the interpretation of a peace treaty, deadly attacks in allegedly occupied territory, unilateral economic sanctions, and the legal consequences of failing to dispose of hazardous waste properly.

For any questions/queries about participation, you can contact jessup@uantwerpen.be

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• Subject : Private international law
  
• Team composition : 2-4
• Format : Written and Oral rounds. Oral rounds in Paris, France
• Timeline: Problem released in November, Oral rounds in May

The PAX Moot Competition is a specialised moot court focussing on Transnational Law and Private International Law issues. In this competition, participants will be able to learn and apply first-hand the complexities and nuances of how international Conventions and EU Regulations interact in the context of globalization. Without pleading on the merits of the case, PAX Moot participants will be given a case geared towards private international law questions (jurisdictional, choice of law or recognition and enforcement issues).

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• Subject: National, Belgian, constitutional law 

• Team composition: 3 students 

• Credits: 9 ECTS 

• Language: Dutch and/or French 

• Content guidance: Prof. Cedric Jenart and graduate teaching & research assistant Marta Łotoczuk  
• Format: Written and Oral rounds. Oral rounds in Brussels, Belgium 
  
• Timeline: Problem released beginning of February. Deadline written beginning of March. Oral rounds end of April. 

You defend, together with your two teammates, the colours and honour of the University of Antwerp and its Faculty of Law by competing in a moot court against teams from the nine other Belgian Faculties of Law.

The Moot Court consists of a written phase and an oral phase that takes place in the courtrooms of the Council of State. The judges normally consist of the first president of the Council of State, a former vice-president of the European Court of Human Rights and other respected magistrates, lawyers and jurists.

The fictional case is usually inspired by an existing case for the Constitutional Court. A legal norm is thus potentially in conflict with the Constitution or the rules governing the division of powers. The procedure may arise as a result of a preliminary question or in the context of an action for annulment. The fictitious case concerns both institutional constitutional law and human rights.

There are interesting prizes to be won for the best pleader, the best pleading and the best oral argument. 

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Results 

In the eight years of the moot court competition's existence, the UAntwerp team has already won the written round six (!) times, reached the final five times and won the entire moot court competition three times. You can find an overview of our wins in the following image. 

Are you going to continue this tradition?