WHAT IS JESSUP?

  • Jessup is an international law advocacy competition founded in the spring of 1959 by a group of law students from Harvard University, Columbia University and the University of Virginia.
  • Oral and written pleadings are presented on timely issues of international law and argued as before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, The Netherlands.
  • It has grown to include approximately 30% of all law schools worldwide.

Previous problems include

2003 – The Case Concerning Wartime Rape and Sexual Slavery

2002 – The Case Concerning Internet Rights

2000 – The Case Concerning Vaccine Trials

1999 – The Case Concerning Cultural Identity and World Property

1998 – Case Concerning the International Crime Tribunal

WHO WAS JESSUP?

Judge Jessup was an influential and renowned diplomat, scholar, teacher, and practitioner of international law, who contributed to the drafting of the Statute of the I.C.J. and sat on the Court from 1961-71.

WHO COMPETES?

    • 1,500 students from nearly 400 law schools in almost 50 nations participate.
    • Approximately 60 teams advance to the International Rounds in Washington, D.C.

Last year, the United States sent 13 teams to the International Rounds, from such schools as NYU, U. Texas and Harvard. Other countries represented at the Finals included: Australia, Austria, Argentina, Belarus, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, PR China, Columbia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Liberia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan R.O.C., Turkey, Ukraine, UK, Venezuela, West Indies.

WHY SHOULD I DO IT?

Although the Jessup Competition was established to test oral and written skills, it has also become a fraternity of legal professionals. Former participants, judges and other supporters worldwide banded together several years ago to found the Friends of the Jessup, and they continue to serve as judges, coaches and fund-raisers. It is a great opportunity to meet other students looking to specialize in international practice. It counts as a two-credit class in the Spring.

More information is available at http://www.ilsa.org/jessup/ (International Law Students Associations’ Jessup page) and http://www.icj-cij.org/icjwww/icj002.htm (English language page of the I.C.J.)

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