Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition

{{Short description|Major international moot competition}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox |name = Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition |bodystyle = width:20em |titlestyle = |title = Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition |image = 250px |caption = International Court of Justice judges Xue Hanqin, Ronny Abraham, and Julia Sebutinde judging the 2013 international final |headerstyle = |labelstyle = width:33% |datastyle = |header1 = | label1 = Established | data1 = 1960 (1968 for international rounds) | label2 = Venue | data2 = Washington, D.C., U.S. (international rounds) | label3 = Subject matter | data3 = Public international law | label4 = Class | data4 = Grand Slam<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lawgazette.com.sg/news/updates/international-moots-review/|title=The 2017/18 International Moots Season in Review|date=8 October 2018|access-date=24 October 2018|archive-date=10 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210230754/https://lawgazette.com.sg/news/updates/international-moots-review/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://lawgazette.com.sg/news/updates/international-moots-review-2/ | title=A Recap of the 2018/19 International Moots Season | date=7 September 2019 | access-date=13 December 2019 | archive-date=10 February 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210230756/https://lawgazette.com.sg/news/updates/international-moots-review-2/ | url-status=live }}</ref> | label5 = Record participation | data5 = 803 teams (2025) | label6 = Qualification | data6 = National/regional rounds | label7 = Most championships | data7 = University of Sydney (6; 1 online) | label8 = Website | data8 = {{Official website}} }}

The '''Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition''', also known as the '''Jessup Moot''' or '''The Jessup''', is the oldest and largest international moot competition in the world, with recent editions each attracting participants from more than 800 law schools in around 100 countries.<ref name=ILSAWebsite>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilsa.org/jessup/|title=ILSA|website=ilsa.org|date=20 July 2018|access-date=4 August 2006|archive-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401012725/https://www.ilsa.org/jessup/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://law.scu.edu/international/international-law-moot-court.cfm|title=Santa Clara University|access-date=29 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126114529/http://law.scu.edu/international/international-law-moot-court.cfm|archive-date=26 January 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tilburguniversity.nl/faculties/law/departments/eip/teaching/jessup.html|title=Search results|website=Tilburg University|access-date=29 March 2010|archive-date=11 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211013621/http://www.tilburguniversity.nl/faculties/law/departments/eip/teaching/jessup.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.droitcivil.uottawa.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1832&lang=en|title=Faculty of Law - Civil Law section|publisher=University of Ottawa |access-date=29 March 2010|archive-date=11 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211013625/http://www.droitcivil.uottawa.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1832&lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201002092145/media-statements/uwa-law-students-scoop-jessup-moot-competition|title=UWA law students scoop Jessup Moot Competition|access-date=29 March 2010|archive-date=10 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210230751/http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201002092145/media-statements/uwa-law-students-scoop-jessup-moot-competition|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Origins of the moot== The competition is a simulation of a fictional dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). It is named after Philip Jessup, who once served on the ICJ, and is organised by the International Law Students Association (ILSA). The moot, under the leadership of Stephen Schwebel (who also wrote the inaugural moot problem),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilsa.org/jessup/50.php|title=The future of international law|publisher=International Law Students Association |access-date=28 April 2014|archive-date=29 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429075941/http://www.ilsa.org/jessup/50.php|url-status=live}}</ref> started as a friendly advocacy competition between two teams from Harvard University in 1960.<ref name=archives>{{cite web|title=1960 Jessup Competition|url=http://www.ilsa.org/jessup/archives/1960.php|website=ilsa.org|publisher=International Law Students Association|access-date=30 October 2014|archive-date=5 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105014437/http://www.ilsa.org/jessup/archives/1960.php|url-status=live}}</ref> The first champions were declared in 1963 and the competition opened its doors to non-American teams in 1968.

==Moot format== thumb|upright|The Jessup Cup on display during the 2007 competition thumb|The first day briefing of the 2007 competition

The Jessup moot involves arguing a hypothetical case on issues of international law as if before the ICJ, but with a smaller complement of judges (three instead of 15). The ILSA Board is responsible for soliciting and selecting proposals for the ''compromis'' every year.

Each team comprises two to five student members. Each team must prepare to argue both Applicant and Respondent, and must produce a written memorial for each side. In each oral round, two competitors from a team will argue one side of the case for 45 minutes in total, including any time reserved for rebuttal or sur-rebuttal. A third team member may be seated at the bar table as of-counsel, but may not present argument. Most teams include at least one advisor or coach, usually drawn from the respective universities' international law faculty or past Jessup competitors.

Most countries hold qualifying rounds to select the best team or teams to advance to the international phase of the competition. This has mostly been held in Washington, D.C., sometimes in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Society of International Law. Generally, each country can only send one school for every ten law schools that participate in the moot. This is subject to a cap and also rules pertaining to prior performance. In recent years, more than 800 schools worldwide participate in the competition, with the top 160 or so qualifying for the international rounds. Teams that do not qualify may be invited to participate in exhibition rounds.

In the international rounds, teams compete in four preliminary rounds, with the top 48 or more teams advancing to the knockout stages and the top 16 teams receiving a bye to the Round of 32. Each oral round and memorial is usually evaluated by a panel of three judges, and memorials are re-assessed for knockout and award purposes. Judges for most of the rounds are usually practicing lawyers or academics, while notable academics and international judges are usually invited to judge the Semi-Final and Final round matches.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the oral rounds for the first time. For the 2021 edition, the oral rounds went fully online using the Yaatly platform, and all teams were allowed to participate regardless of the outcome of any national or regional round, and teams could moot seated. The top 168 out of 548 teams from the first four preliminary matches proceeded to compete in four additional advanced rounds, from which the top 48 teams competed in the knockout stages, with the top 16 seeds receiving a bye to the round of 32. In a departure from past practice, the choice of side was determined by the organisers rather than the higher-ranked team. In the 2022 edition, a modified global format was adopted. The 2023 edition of the international rounds saw a return to the in-person format.

==Past winners and records (international rounds)== Although the moot was founded in 1960, no winners were declared for the first three editions of the competition. The competition was only first open to countries outside the United States in 1968, and outside of North America in 1970.<ref name=archives/> The first international awards were handed out in 1972.

===Pre-international era (1960 to 1967)=== {| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" ! Year !! Champion !! Runner-up !! Semi-finalists !! Memorial winners<ref name="ReferenceA">In most cases this would refer to the Baxter Award for Best Applicant/Respondent Memorial, with one exception being the 2021 rounds, which only had global and not international rounds, and presented Dillard Awards in lieu</ref> !! Number of teams |- | 1960 || ''No Champion Declared'' || — || — || — || 2 |- | 1961 || ''No Champion Declared'' || — || — || — || 4 |- | 1962 || ''No Champion Declared'' || — || — || — || 6 |- | 1963 || Columbia University (United States) ||University of North Carolina (United States) || || Overall: Columbia University (United States) || 8 |- | 1964 || University of Texas (United States) || — || || Overall: University of Texas (United States) || 15 |- | 1965 || Columbia University (United States) || University of Virginia (United States) || || Overall: Columbia University (United States) || 16 |- | 1966 || University of Texas (United States) || University of Wisconsin (United States) || || Overall: University of Texas (United States) || 27 |- | 1967 || Vanderbilt University (United States) || Harvard University (United States) || || Overall: Vanderbilt University (United States) || 35 |}

===International era (1968 to present)=== {| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" !Year<ref>{{cite web |date=29 June 2018 |title=Jessup History |url=https://www.ilsa.org/Jessup-history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929105203/https://www.ilsa.org/jessup-history/ |archive-date=29 September 2020 |access-date=1 May 2020}}</ref> !Champion and finalist !Semi-finalists !Quarter-finalists !Memorial winners<ref name="ReferenceA2">In most cases this would refer to the Baxter Award for Best Applicant/Respondent Memorial, with one exception being the 2021 rounds, which only had global and not international rounds, and presented Dillard Awards in lieu</ref> !Teams worldwide !Teams at International Rounds<ref>Includes Exhibition Teams</ref> |- |1968 |Duke University (US) University of Miami (US) | | |Overall: Duke University (US) |32 |6 |- |1969 |Joint winners Rutgers University (US) University of Michigan (US) | | |Overall: California Western University (US) |40 |8 |- |1970 |University of Miami (US) University of Kentucky (US) | | |Overall: University of Miami (US) |56 |9 |- |1971 |University of Texas (US) University of California at Davis (US) | | |Overall: Vanderbilt University (US) |73 |9 |- |1972 |University of Miami (US) Haile Selassie I University (Ethiopia) | | |Overall: Haile Selassie I University (Ethiopia) |99 |16 |- |1973 |West Virginia University (US) Brunel University (UK) | | |Evans Award: State University of Utrecht (Netherlands) |94 |17 |- |1974 |University of Texas (US) Haile Selassie I University (Ethiopia) | | |Evans Award: University of Nigeria (Nigeria) |103 |18 |- |1975 |Cambridge University (UK) Georgetown University (US) | | |Evans Award: University of Toronto (Canada) |119 |20 |- |1976 |University of Toronto (Canada) American University (US) | | |Evans Award: University of Toronto (Canada) |134 |22 |- |1977 |University of Kansas (US) University of Toronto (Canada) | | |Overall: University of Toronto (Canada) |157 |29 |- |1978 |Brooklyn Law School (US) University of Toronto (Canada) | | |Applicant: University of Toronto (Canada) Respondent: University of Toronto (Canada) |154 |20 |- |1979 |Northwestern University (US) University of Adelaide (Australia) | | |Applicant: University of the Philippines (Philippines) Respondent: University of the Philippines (Philippines) |187 |34 |- |1980 |Georgetown University (US) National University of Singapore (Singapore) | | |Applicant: University of Washington (US) Respondent: University of Washington (US) |196 |35 |- |1981 |Australian National University (Australia) University of the Pacific (US) | | |Applicant: University of Georgia (United States) Respondent: Washington and Lee University (US) |181 |28 |- |1982 |National University of Singapore (Singapore) University of the Pacific (US) | | |Applicant: National University of Singapore (Singapore) Respondent: Fordham University (US) |197 |29 |- |1983 |University of Kansas (US) National University of Singapore (Singapore) | | |Applicant: Fordham University (US) Respondent: Fordham University (US) |206 |30 |- |1984 |Dalhousie University (Canada) South Texas College of Law (US) | | |Applicant: Freie Universitaet (Germany) Respondent: Freie Universitaet (Germany) |197 |33 |- |1985 |National University of Singapore (Singapore) Southwestern University School of Law (United States) | | |Applicant: Monash University (Australia) Respondent: Monash University (Australia) |213 |36 |- |1986 |Boston College (US) National University of Singapore (Singapore) | | |Applicant: Boston College (US) Respondent: Boston College (US) |214 |38 |- |1987 |Georgetown University (US) Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) | | |Applicant: National University of Singapore (Singapore) Respondent: National University of Singapore (Singapore) |268 |40 |- |1988 |University of Melbourne (Australia) National University of Singapore (Singapore) |Columbia University (US) Leiden University (Netherlands) | |Applicant: Southern Illinois University (US) Respondent: Southern Illinois University (US) |265 |39 |- |1989 |University of British Columbia (Canada) University of Melbourne (Australia) |New York University (US) University of the Philippines (Philippines) | |Applicant: University of British Columbia (Canada) Respondent: University of British Columbia (Canada) |259 |39 |- |1990 |University of Georgia (US) University of Toronto (Canada) |University of Melbourne (Australia) National University of Singapore (Singapore) | |Applicant: South Texas College of Law (US) Respondent: University of Melbourne (Australia) |253 |40 |- |1991 |University of Saskatchewan (Canada) University of Georgia (US) |University of Sydney (Australia) University of Malaya (Malaysia) |University of Georgia (US) Dr Ambedkar Government Law College (India) |Applicant: University of Georgia (US) Respondent: University of Georgia (US) |243 |42 |- |1992 |Universite de Paris I (France) National University of Singapore (Singapore) |University of Washington (US) McGill University (Canada) |University of Adelaide (Australia) University of Pennsylvania (US) University of Kiel (Germany) University of Vienna (Austria) |Applicant: University of the Pacific (US) Respondent: University of Washington (US) |242 |33 |- |1993 |University of Melbourne (Australia) University of Hawaii (US) |National University of Singapore University of British Columbia (Canada) |Georgetown University (US) Ateneo Law School (Philippines) McGill University (Canada) University of Vienna (Austria) |Applicant: University of Minnesota (US) Respondent: Dr Ambedkar Government Law College, Chennai (India) |261 |43 |- |1994 |National University of Singapore (Singapore) University of Melbourne (Australia) |University of Vienna (Austria) University of Georgia (US) |Georgetown University (US) University of New South Wales (Australia) International Islamic University (Malaysia) Universidad de Costa Rica (Costa Rica) |Applicant: International Islamic University (Malaysia) Respondent: University of Alabama (US) |269 |47 |- |1995 |University of the Philippines (Philippines) University of Western Australia (Australia) |Dr Ambedkar Government Law College (India) University of San Diego (US) |University of Sydney (Australia) University of British Columbia (Canada) Emory University (US) University of Kiel (Germany) |Applicant: University of Alabama (US) Respondent: University of Hawaii (US) |259 |49 |- |1996 |University of Sydney (Australia) National University of Singapore (Singapore) | | |Applicant: National University of Singapore (Singapore) Respondent: University of Vienna (Austria) |300 |54 |- |1997 |Universidad Catolica Andres Bello (Venezuela) University of Calgary (Canada) |Kerala Law Academy (India) Law Society of Ireland (Ireland) |Georgetown University (US) University of New South Wales (Australia) University of Malaya (Malaysia) University of Vienna (Austria) |Evans Award: University of Vienna (Austria) |280 |55 |- |1998 |Universidad Autonoma Nacional de Mexico (Mexico) Australian National University (Australia) |University of Canterbury (New Zealand) National University of Singapore (Singapore) |National Law School of India University (India) University of Michigan (US) McGill University (Canada) University of Vienna (Austria) |Applicant: University of Hawaii (US) Respondent: University of Hawaii (US) |275 |57 |- |1999 |National Law School of India University (India) University of Pretoria (South Africa) |Bond University (Australia) Universidad Catolica Andres Bello (Venezuela) |National University of Singapore (Singapore) Northwestern University (US) Universidad de los Andes (Colombia) Erasmus University (Netherlands) |Applicant: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) Respondent: University of Saskatchewan (Canada) |275 |62 |- |2000 |University of Melbourne (Australia) Universidad Catolica Andres Bello (Venezuela) |Law Society of Ireland (Ireland) Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (Mexico) |Duke University (US) Hong Kong University (Hong Kong) Aristotle University (Greece) State University of Moldova (Moldova) |Applicant: University of Alabama (US) Respondent: International Islamic University (Malaysia) |287 |67 |- |2001 |National University of Singapore (Singapore) Universidad Catolica Andres Bello (Venezuela) |Bond University (Australia) University of Virginia (US) |University of Georgia (US) University of British Columbia (Canada) University of the Philippines (Philippines) University of Vienna (Austria) |Applicant: New England School of Law (US) Respondent: University of Vienna (Austria) |309 |68 |- |2002 |University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa) University of Western Australia (Australia) |Harvard University (US) University of Otago (New Zealand) |National University of Singapore (Singapore) National Law School of India University (India) University of Georgia (US) University of Copenhagen (Denmark) |Applicant: University of Otago (New Zealand) Respondent: Harvard University (US) |384 |75 |- |2003 |University of Western Australia (Australia) Mari State University (Russia) |Columbia University (US) Universidad Catolica Andres Bello (Venezuela) |Harvard University (US) National University of Singapore (Singapore) National Law School of India University (India) Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) |Applicant: Universidad Catolica Andres Bello (Venezuela) Respondent: Bond University (Australia) |481 |83 |- |2004 |Ateneo Law School (Philippines) National University of Singapore (Singapore) |Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (Mexico) University of Vienna (Austria) |Harvard University (US) Hong Kong University (Hong Kong) Monash University (Australia) International Islamic University (Malaysia) |Applicant: Universidad Catolica Andres Bello (Venezuela) Respondent: University of Queensland (Australia) |524 |94 |- |2005 |University of Queensland (Australia) International Islamic University (Malaysia) |Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) American University (US) |Universidad Catolica Andres Bello (Venezuela) Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (Mexico) University of Vienna (Austria) |Applicant: Universidad Catolica Andres Bello (Venezuela) Respondent: Columbia University (US) |543 |103 |- |2006 |Columbia University (US) Universidad Catolica Andres Bello (Venezuela) |NALSAR University of Law (India) University of Cape Town (South Africa) |University of Toronto (Canada) University of the Philippines (Philippines) Lewis & Clark Law School (US) Universidad Autonoma Nacional de Mexico (Mexico) |Applicant: Hong Kong University (Hong Kong) Respondent: University of Kiel (Germany) |565 |101 |- |2007 |University of Sydney (Australia) King's College London (UK) |National University of Singapore (Singapore) University of Queensland (Australia) |University of Ottawa (Canada) University College London (UK) University of California, Hastings (US) Lewis & Clark Law School (US) |Applicant: Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) Respondent: Washington University in St Louis (US) | |101 |- |2008 |Case Western Reserve University (US) University of New South Wales (Australia) |University College London (UK) National Law School of India University (India) |National University of Singapore (Singapore) Auckland University (New Zealand) Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines) Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) |Applicant: Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines) Respondent: University of Ottawa (Canada) | |110 |- |2009 |Universidad de los Andes (Colombia) University College London (UK) |Aristotle University (Greece) Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) |National Law School of India University (India) University of Ottawa (Canada) Universidad Catolica Andres Bello (Venezuela) London School of Economics (UK) |Applicant: King's College London (UK) Respondent: University of Sydney (Australia) | | |- |2010 |Australian National University (Australia) Columbia University (US) |NALSAR University of Law (India) University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) |National Law School of India University University of Western Australia (Australia) Universidad de los Andes (Chile) University College London (UK) |Applicant: National University of Singapore (Singapore) Respondent: Australian National University (Australia) | |127 |- |2011 |University of Sydney (Australia) Columbia University (US) |National University of Singapore (Singapore) Norman Manley Law School (Jamaica) |West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (India) Arizona State University (US) Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel) Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) |Applicant: Case Western Reserve University (US) Respondent: University of Sydney (Australia) | | |- |2012 |Moscow State University (Russia) Columbia University (US) |University of the Philippines (Philippines) Auckland University (New Zealand) |University of Ottawa (Canada) University of Melbourne (Australia) University of California, Hastings (US) Oxford University (UK) |Applicant: National Law School of India University (India) Respondent: Columbia University (US) |605 |137 |- |2013 |National Law School of India University (India) Singapore Management University (Singapore) |Columbia University (US) Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) |University of California, Hastings (US) University of New South Wales (Australia) Murdoch University (Australia) Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel) |Applicant: Universite de Luxembourg (Luxembourg) Respondent: National Law University, Delhi (India) |632 | |- |2014 |University of Queensland (Australia) Singapore Management University (Singapore) |Columbia University (US) King's College London (UK) |Washington University in St Louis (US) University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) Oxford University (UK) King's College London (UK) |Applicant: University of Queensland (Australia) Respondent: Universitas Pelita Harapan (Indonesia) |675 |124 |- |2015 |University of Sydney (Australia) Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Chile) |Oxford University (UK) University of Western Australia (Australia) |NALSAR University of Law (India) Moscow State University of International Relations (Russia) Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Brazil) |Applicant: University of National and World Economy (Bulgaria) Respondent: University of Pennsylvania (US) | |127 |- |2016 |Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) University of Pennsylvania (US) |Columbia University (US) King's College London (UK) |Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel) New York University (US) Washington University in St Louis (US) University of Vienna (Austria) |Applicant: Columbia University (US) Respondent: Columbia University (US) | |132 |- |2017 |University of Sydney (Australia) Norman Manley Law School (Jamaica) |National Law University Odisha (India) University of Western Ontario (Canada) |National Law Institute University, Bhopal (India) Moscow State University of International Relations (Russia) Humboldt University of Berlin (Germany) King's College London (UK) |Applicant: University of the Philippines (Philippines) Respondent: University of Queensland (Australia) |650 |143 |- |2018 |University of Queensland (Australia) National Law School of India University (India) |Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Chile) King's College London (UK) |University of Pretoria (South Africa) Moscow State University of International Relations (Russia) Yale University (US) LMU Munich (Germany) |Applicant: University of San Carlos (Philippines) Respondent: University of Pretoria (South Africa) |600 |145 |- |2019 |Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary) Columbia University (US) |National University of Singapore (Singapore) Yale University (US) |Auckland University (New Zealand) King's College London (UK) University of the Philippines (Philippines) Universidad Buenos Aires (Argentina) |Applicant: National Law University, Jodhpur (India) Respondent: Auckland University (New Zealand) |600 |124 |- |2020 |Cancelled due to COVID-19 |NA |NA |Applicant: Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) Respondent: Sofia University (Bulgaria) |NA |NA |- bgcolor="#BFAFB2" |2021 (online) |University of Sydney (Australia) National University of Singapore (Singapore) |National Law University Odisha (India) University of San Carlos (Philippines) |University of Cambridge (UK) |Applicant: University of Pennsylvania (US) Respondent: University of Münster (Germany) |548 |548 |- bgcolor="#BFAFB2" |2022 (online) |Harvard University (US) Singapore Management University (Singapore) |Universidad Autonoma Nacional de Mexico (Mexico) Universidade de Sao Paulo (Brazil) |Hertie School (Germany) University of New South Wales (Australia) University of Queensland (Australia) University of Western Ontario (Canada) |Applicant: University of Geneva (Switzerland) Respondent: Singapore Management University (Singapore) |650 |200 |- |2023 |University of Amsterdam (Netherlands) Peking University (China) |Singapore Management University (Singapore) China University of Political Science & Law (China) |Ateneo Law School (Philippines) Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary) Oxford University (UK) Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (Argentina) |Applicant: Harvard University (US) Respondent: Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (India) |550 |140 |- |2024 |University of the Philippines (Philippines) Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (Argentina) |Oxford University (UK) Universidade de Sao Paulo (Brazil) |Singapore Management University (Singapore) National Law University Delhi (India) New York University (US) Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (Brazil) |Applicant: University of Toronto (Canada) Respondent: Ateneo De Manila University (Philippines) |640 |150 |- |2025 |Singapore Management University (Singapore) National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (Ukraine) |University of Queensland (Australia) NALSAR University (India) |National Law School of India University (India) Strathmore University (Kenya) Tashkent State University (Uzbekistan) Universidad de Los Andes (Colombia) |Applicant: University of San Carlos (Philippines) Respondent: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) |803 |160 |- |2026 |National University of Singapore (Singapore) Ateneo Law School (Philippines) |University of Sydney (Australia) Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (Argentina) |University of San Carlos (Philippines) Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) Macquarie University (Australia) York University (Canada) |Applicant: National University of Advanced Legal Studies (India) Respondent: Peking University School of Transnational Law (China) |807 |165 |}

== Track record (international rounds) == The University of Sydney has won the most number of championships, winning the Jessup Cup six times (with the sixth title won in 2021, which were conducted online due to COVID-19). Five law schools have made the final on their international debuts: Australian National University (1981); Dalhousie University (1984); University of Saskatchewan (1991); University of Western Australia (1995); and Singapore Management University (2013). Of these schools, ANU, Dalhousie, and Saskatchewan won their finals.

=== University (1968 to 2026) === {| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:center" !'''University''' !'''Champion''' !'''Runner-up''' !'''Semi-Finalist''' !'''Baxter Award (1st)<ref>Best Applicant or Respondent Memorial</ref> or Best Memorial''' !'''Best Overall Applicant Side or Best Overall Respondent Side''' !'''Dillard Award (1st)'''<ref>Best Memorial for World Regional Rounds or Best Memorial from the National Rounds; Best Memorials from National Rounds and Top Memorials from International Rounds combined</ref> !'''Evans Award (1st)'''<ref>Best Memorial for International Rounds (from 1973 to 1976, the Evans Award was for Best Memorial)</ref> !'''Best oralist (1st)'''<ref>This generally refers to the preliminary rounds only, though awards have also been given for advanced rounds.</ref> !'''Best finals oralist''' !'''Last championship''' !'''Last finals appearance''' !'''Debut/Debut in international rounds''' |- |University of Sydney (Australia) |6 (1996; 2007; 2011; 2015; 2017; 2021 (online)) |0 |2 (1991; 2026) |1 (2011) |2 (2015; 2021) |1 (2007) | |4 (1996; 1998; 2000; 2015) |3 (2007; 2015; 2017) |2017; 2021 (online) |2017; 2021 (online) |1977/1991 |- |National University of Singapore (Singapore) |5 (1982; 1985; 1994; 2001; 2026) |8 (1980; 1983; 1986; 1988; 1992; 1996; 2004; 2021 (online)) |6 (1990; 1993; 1998; 2007; 2011; 2019) |5 (1982; 1987; 1987; 1996; 2010) |1 (2016) | |4 (1982; 1983; 1985; 1987) |5 (1976; 1988; 1989; 2016; 2021 (online)) |8 (1980; 1982; 1985; 1996; 2001; 2004; 2021 (online); 2026) |2026 |2026 |1973/1973 |- |University of Melbourne (Australia) |3 (1988; 1993; 2000) |2 (1989; 1994) |1 (1990) |1 (1990) |1 (2012) |1 (2000) |2 (1988; 1993) |1 (2012) |4 (1988; 1993; 1994; 2000) |2000 |2000 |1977/1980 |- |University of Queensland (Australia) |3 (2005; 2014; 2018) |0 |2 (2007; 2025) |3 (2004; 2014; 2017) |4 (2014; 2019; 2025 (2)) | |1 (2017) | |1 (2014) |2018 |2018 |1977/2002 |- |Australian National University (Australia) |2 (1981; 2010) |1 (1998) | |1 (2010) | | |2 (1981; 1998) |1 (1981) |2 (1981; 1998) |2010 |2010 |1977/1981 |- |University of Miami (United States) |2 (1970; 1972) |1 (1968) | |1 (1970) | | | |1 (1970) | |1972 |1972 |1968/1968 |- |Georgetown University (United States) |2 (1980; 1987) |1 (1975) | |0 | | | | |1 (1987) |1987 |1987 | |- |University of Texas (United States) |2 (excludes 2 before 1968) |0 | |0 (excludes 2 before 1968) | | | |2 (1971; 1972) |2 (1971; 1974) |1974 |1974 |1968/1968 |- |University of Kansas (United States) |2 (1977; 1983) |0 | |0 | | | | |2 (1977; 1983) |1983 |1983 | |- |University of the Philippines (Philippines) |2 (1995; 2024) |0 |2 (1989; 2012) |3 (1979 (2); 2017) | | |1 (1979) |3 (1975; 1979; 2022 (online)) |1 (2024) |2024 |2024 | |- |National Law School of India University (India) |2 (1999; 2013) |1 (2018) |1 (2008) |1 (2012) | | | | |2 (2013; 2018) |2013 |2018 | |- |Columbia University (United States) |1 (excludes 2 before 1968) |4 (2010; 2011; 2012; 2019) |5 (1988; 2003; 2013; 2014; 2016) |4 (2005; 2012; 2016 (2)) (excludes 2 before 1968) |3 (2012; 2013; 2018) |1 (2012) |4 (1988; 2001; 2010; 2012) |3 (2010; 2011; 2021 (online)) (excludes 1 before 1968) |4 (2006; 2010; 2011; 2012) |2006 |2019 |1968/1968 |- |Singapore Management University (Singapore) |1 (2025) |3 (2013; 2014; 2022 (online)) |1 (2023) |1 (2022) | |0 |0 | |1 (2025) |2025 |2025 |2011/2013 |- |University of Toronto (Canada) |1 (1976) |3 (1977; 1978; 1990) | |4 (1977; 1978; 1978; 2024) | | |4 (1975; 1976; 1977; 1978) |3 (1977; 1983; 1990) |2 (1976; 1990) |1976 |1990 |1968/1970 |- |Universidad Catolica Andres Bello (Venezuela) |1 (1997) |3 |2 (1999, 2003) |3 (2003; 2004; 2005) | |1 (2004) |1 (2004) | |1 (1997) |1997 |2006 | |- |University of Western Australia (Australia) |1 (2003) |2 (1995; 2002) |1 (2015) |0 | |1 (1999) | |2 (1997; 2003) |3 (1995; 2002; 2003) |2003 |2003 |1977/1995 |- |University of Georgia (United States) |1 (1990) |1 | |3 (1981; 1991; 1991) | | | |2 (2001; 2004) |1 (1991) |1990 |1991 | |- |Boston College (United States) |1 (1986) |0 | |2 (1986; 1986) | | | |1 (1990) |1 (1986) |1986 |1986 | |- |University of British Columbia (Canada) |1 (1989) |0 |1 (1993) |2 (1989; 1989) | | | |1 (1995) |1 (1989) |1989 |1989 |1968/1980 |- |University of Buenos Aires (Argentina) |1 (2016) |0 |3 (2005, 2009, 2013) |2 (2007; 2020) | | | | |1 (2016) |2016 |2016 | |- |Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines) |1 (2004) |1 (2026) | |1 (2008) | | |2 (2008; 2011) | | |2004 |2026 | |- |Dalhousie University (Canada) |1 |0 | | | | | |1 (1984) |1 (1984) |1984 |1984 |1968/1984 |- |Case Western Reserve University (United States) |1 |0 | |1 (2011) | | | |2 (2022 (online); 2023) |1 (2008) |2008 |2008 |- |University of Saskatchewan (Canada) |1 |0 | |1 (1999) | | | | | |1991 |1991 |1968/1991 |- |Moscow State University (Russia) |1 |0 | | | | | | | |2012 |2012 | |- |Universidad de los Andes (Colombia) |1 |0 | | | | |1 (2009) | |1 (2009) |2009 |2009 | |- |Cambridge University (UK) |1 |0 | | | | | |1 (1975) |1 (1975) |1975 |1975 | |- |Université de Paris I (France) |1 |0 | | | | |1 (1991) |1 (1999) |1 (1992) |1992 |1992 | |- |Brooklyn Law School (United States) |1 |0 | | | | | | |1 (1978) |1978 |1978 | |- |University of Michigan (United States) |1 |0 | |0 | | |1 (2006) |1 (1969) | |1969 |1969 | |- |Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary) |1 |0 | | | |1 (2018) |1 (2018) | |1 (2019) |2019 |2019 | |- |Harvard University (United States) |1 (1 online) |0 (excludes 1 before 1968) |1 (2002) |1 (2002) |1 (2023) |2 (2002; 2023) |2 (2002; 2023) |0 (excludes 1 before 1968) |1 (2022 (online)) |2022 (online) |2022 (online) |1968/1968 |- |University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands) |1 |0 | | | | | | |1 (2023) |2023 |2023 | |- |University of Georgia (US) |1 (1990) |1 (1991) |1 (1994) | | | | | | | | | |- |Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Mexico) |1 (1998) |0 |3 (2000, 2004, 2022) | | | | | | | | | |- |Haile Selassie I University (Ethiopia) |0 |2 | |1 (1972) | | | |1 (1974) |1 (1972) |NA |1974 | |- |University of the Pacific (United States) |0 |2 | |0 | | | | | |NA |1982 | |- |Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (Argentina) |0 |1 | | | |1 (2021) | | | | |2024 |2013/2015 |- |Vanderbilt University (United States) |0 (excludes 1 before 1968) |0 | |1 (1971) (excludes 1 before 1968) | | | |0 (excludes 1 before 1968) | | | |1968/ |- |Duke University (United States) |0 (excludes 1 before 1968) |0 | |1 (1968) | | | |1 (1968) | |1968 |1968 |1968/1968 |- |University of Hawaii (United States) |0 |1 | |3 (1995; 1998; 1998) | |1 (1993) |1 (1995) |1 (1993) | |NA |1993 | |- |University of New South Wales (Australia) |0 |1 | | |1 (2013) | | |1 (2013) | |NA |2008 |1977/1983 |- |University College, London (UK) |0 |1 | | | | | |1 (2008) | |NA |2009 | |- |King's College, London (UK) |0 |1 |3 (2014, 2016, 2018) |1 (2009) | |1 (2009) | | | |NA |2007 | |- |International Islamic University (Malaysia) |0 |1 | |2 (1994; 2000) | | |1 (2000) | |1 (2005) |NA |2005 | |- |University of Calgary (Canada) |0 |1 | | | | |1 (1998) |1 (2005) | |NA |1997 |1968/1988 |- |South Texas College of Law (United States) |0 |1 | |1 | | | | | |NA |1984 | |- |University of Adelaide (Australia) |0 |1 | | | | | |1 (1978) |1 (1979) |NA |1979 |1977/1977 |- |Southern Illinois University (United States) |0 |0 | |3 (1988 (2); 1992) | |2 (1989; 1992) |1 (1992) |1 (2006) | |NA |NA | |- |Norman Manley Law School (Jamaica) |0 |1 (2017) |1 (2011) | | | | | | | | | |- |Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Chile) |0 |1 |1 (2018) | | | | | | | | | |- |University College London (UK) |0 |1 (2010) |1 (2008) | | | | | | | | | |- |University of San Carlos (Philippines) | | |1 (2021) |2 (2018, 2024) |1 (2022) | |1 (2024) | | | | | |- |}

=== Country (1968 to 2026) === {| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" |- bgcolor=#efefef | '''Country''' || '''Default cap on teams at international rounds'''<ref>In 2021 and 2022, global rounds were introduced, modifying the caps upwards.</ref> || '''Number of championships''' || ''' Number of runners-up''' || '''Number of finals appearances''' || '''Last championship''' || '''Last finals appearance''' || '''Debut''' |- | United States || 14 || 18 (excludes 5 before 1968; 1 online) || 13 (excludes 4 before 1968) || 32 (excludes 9 before 1968; 1 online) || 2022 (online) || 2022 (online) || 1968 |- | Australia || 3 || 14 (1 online) || 7 || 21 (1 online) || 2021 (online) || 2021 (online) || 1977 |- | Singapore || 1 || 6 || 11 (2 online) || 17 (2 online) || 2026 || 2026 || 1973 |- | Canada || 3 || 4 || 4 || 8 || 1991 || 1997 || 1968 |- | Philippines || 3 || 3 || 0 || 3 || 2024 || 2024 || 1975 |- | India || 8 || 2 || 1 || 3 || 2013 || 2018 ||1991 |- | UK || 3 || 1 || 3 || 4 || 1975 || 2009 || 1970 |- | Venezuela || 1 || 1 || 3 || 4 || 1997 || 2006 || |- | Russia || 6 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 2012 || 2012 || |- | South Africa || 2 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 2002 || 2002 || |- | Argentina || 2 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 2016 || 2024 || |- | Colombia || 2 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 2009 ||2009 || |- | France || 1 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 1992 || 1992 || |- | Mexico || 2 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 1998 || 1998 || |- | Hungary || 1 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 2019 || 2019 || |- | The Netherlands || 2 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 2023 || 2023 || |}

==Notable former participants== * Ang Cheng Hock (1995, National University of Singapore) – Senior Counsel, Deputy Attorney-General of Singapore, and Judge of Appeal of Supreme Court of Singapore * Hilary Charlesworth (1980, University of Melbourne) – Professor of international law and Judge of the International Court of Justice<ref>{{cite web|url=http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/regarding-rights/2016/02/19/law-as-a-site-of-politics-an-interview-with-hilary-charlesworth/|title=An Interview with Hilary Charlesworth|website=anu.edu.au|access-date=30 December 2018|archive-date=30 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230233333/http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/regarding-rights/2016/02/19/law-as-a-site-of-politics-an-interview-with-hilary-charlesworth/|url-status=live}}</ref> * Steven Chong (1982, National University of Singapore) – Senior Counsel, Attorney-General of Singapore, and Judge of Appeal of Supreme Court of Singapore<ref name=nusmile>{{cite web|url=https://law.nus.edu.sg/about_us/history_milestones.html|title=History & Milestones|website=law.nus.edu.sg|access-date=8 May 2014|archive-date=8 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508224749/https://law.nus.edu.sg/about_us/history_milestones.html|url-status=live}}</ref> * Peta Credlin (1995, University of Melbourne) – Chief of Staff to former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott * Francisco Domenech (2002, University of Puerto Rico) – Director of the Office of Legislative Services of Puerto Rico * James Edelman (1996, University of Western Australia) – University of Oxford Professor and Justice of the High Court of Australia<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ilsa.org/Jessup/Jessup96/1996PartIPhilipCJessupInt.2-18.pdf|title=Jessup 1996 Oralist Rankings|website=ilsa.org|access-date=30 December 2018|archive-date=30 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230233456/https://www.ilsa.org/Jessup/Jessup96/1996PartIPhilipCJessupInt.2-18.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> * Mahmud Jamal (1993, McGill University) – Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada * Sundaresh Menon (1986, National University of Singapore) – Senior Counsel, Attorney-General of Singapore, and Chief Justice of Singapore<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.asiaone.com/print/News/Latest+News/Edvantage/Story/A1Story20130409-414682.html|title=AsiaOne|website=AsiaOne|access-date=8 December 2017|archive-date=25 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125071103/http://news.asiaone.com/print/News/Latest%2BNews/Edvantage/Story/A1Story20130409-414682.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> * S. Muralidhar (1984, Madras Law College) – Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court, Judge of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, Judge of the High Court of Delhi * Georg Nolte (1984, Free University of Berlin) – Professor of international law and judge of the International Court of Justice * Raul Pangalangan (1983, University of the Philippines) – Judge of International Criminal Court * Bruce Poole (1984, Washington and Lee University) – Chairman of the Maryland Democratic Party * Judith Prakash (1974, National University of Singapore) – Judge of Appeal of Supreme Court of Singapore<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nusmooting.com/jessup|title=NUS Law Mooting and Debating Club | Jessup|website=nusmooting|access-date=21 March 2018|archive-date=21 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321192643/https://www.nusmooting.com/jessup|url-status=live}}</ref> * V.K. Rajah (1982, National University of Singapore) – Senior Counsel, Judge of Appeal of Supreme Court of Singapore, and Attorney-General of Singapore<ref name=nusmile/> * Indranee Rajah (1986, National University of Singapore) – Senior Counsel and Minister in Prime Minister's Office of Singapore<ref>{{cite web|url=http://justified.nuslawclub.com/jessup-drew-napier-practice-round/|title=Jessup Moot Practice Round (with Drew and Napier LLC) - Justified|website=justified.nuslawclub.com|date=19 March 2012 |access-date=8 May 2014|archive-date=6 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706042919/http://justified.nuslawclub.com/jessup-drew-napier-practice-round/|url-status=live}}</ref> * Marco Rubio (1995, University of Miami School of Law) – US Senator from Florida, 2016 US presidential candidate, and United States Secretary of State<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themiamihurricane.com/2016/03/02/law-school-alumnus-sen-marco-rubio-running-for-u-s-president/|title=Law school alumnus Sen. Marco Rubio running for U.S. president|date=3 March 2016|access-date=21 August 2017|archive-date=22 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022012500/http://www.themiamihurricane.com/2016/03/02/law-school-alumnus-sen-marco-rubio-running-for-u-s-president/|url-status=live}}</ref> * K. Shanmugam (1984, National University of Singapore) – Senior Counsel and Minister for Law and Home Affairs, Singapore<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://law.nus.edu.sg/alumni/pdfs/LawLinkJul-Dec08.pdf | title=Oxford International Intellectual Property Moot 2008 Champions | page=23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420200617/http://law.nus.edu.sg/alumni/pdfs/LawLinkJul-Dec08.pdf | archive-date=20 April 2015 }}</ref> * Davinder Singh (1982, National University of Singapore) – Senior Counsel and former CEO of Drew & Napier<ref name=nusmile/> * Brad Smith (1984, Columbia University) – President and Chief Legal Officer of Microsoft<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.microsoft.com/speeches/brad-smith-american-society-of-international-law-second-century-dinner/|title=Brad Smith: American Society of International Law Second Century Dinner|access-date=18 April 2021|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418131809/https://news.microsoft.com/speeches/brad-smith-american-society-of-international-law-second-century-dinner/|url-status=live}}</ref> * Arif Virani (1997, University of Toronto) – Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada * Lucien Wong (1977, National University of Singapore) – Attorney-General of Singapore<ref name="auto"/> * Woo Bih Li (1977, National University of Singapore) – Senior Counsel and High Court Judge of Supreme Court of Singapore<ref name="auto"/>

==Cultural impact== In 2013, White & Case commissioned a 95-minute documentary, ''All Rise'', which followed the Jessup journeys of seven teams around the world; the film made its world premiere at Doc NYC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.docnyc.net/film/all-rise/|title=All Rise|access-date=27 April 2020|archive-date=24 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124230244/https://www.docnyc.net/film/all-rise/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notes and references== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== * [http://www.ilsa.org/jessup/ The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition registration and schedule] ** ICJ Presidents H.E. Rosalyn Higgins and H.E. Stephen M. Schwebel at [https://web.archive.org/web/20090211075926/http://am2009.asil.org/program.cfm the ILSA-ASIL Gala Dinner Celebrating the 50th Anniversary] of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition on 27 March 2009 and [https://web.archive.org/web/20180326141604/https://www.ilsa.org/jessup/50/50thCommittee.pdf Jessup's 50th Anniversary Honorary Committee] and {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160311014946/http://viswiki.com/en/stephen_m._schwebel 50th Jessup Video]}} and [https://web.archive.org/web/20120503050356/http://www.ilsa.org/jessup/50/JessupCelebrationProgram.pdf 50th Jessup Programme] and [http://www.globalarbitrationreview.com/news/article/15199/colombian-team-wins-50th-jessup-moot/ Prize for "Best Jessup Oralist" Launched in Honour of Former ICJ President Stephen M. Schwebel at the 103rd ASIL Annual Meeting] on International Law as Law, Held in Fairmont Hotel, Washington, D.C., 25–28 March 2009 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211075926/http://am2009.asil.org/program.cfm |date=11 February 2009 }}

Category:International law Category:Moot court competitions