Moot Court / Moot Court

The Academic Board of Law, Odense
Teaching activity id: 9066051.
Teaching language: English.ECTS / weighting: 10 ECTS / 0.167 full-time equivalent.
Examination language: English.
Exam activity id: 9066052.Approved: 08-04-14.
Period: Autumn 2014 to Spring 2015.
Grading: Internal grading.
Assessment: 7-point scale.
Offered in: Odense.

Subject director:
Bugge Thorbjørn Daniel, Department of Law.

Prerequisites:
Students must be enrolled at BA of Law or have similar qualifications. The course is open for exchange students provided that they stay at the University of Southern Denmark for both the autumn and the spring term.
To apply make a written application in English consisting of no more than 2500 characters to the subject director no later than May 15. The application must indicate relevant contact details: email address and phone number. All applicants will be asked to appear for an interview which will be conducted in English. The number of participants is limited and ultimately depends on the number of qualified students as well available moot court competitions. Students are elected on the basis of grades achieved in relevant courses as well as an overall assessment of their cooperative, communicative and oral skills. All applicants will receive notice before June 1.

Purpose:
The purpose of the course is to train students to master the written and oral disciplines required for successful participation in moot court competitions.

Participants will achieve a high degree of knowledge of the specific legal problems covered by the competition and ability to identify underlying scientific and practical issues. Furthermore students will develop excellent legal analytical skills, the ability to identify and evaluate possible to legal problems as well as the skills necessary to present legal issues, discussions and solution orally and in writing. The participants are expected develop the personal and professional competences necessary to take individual and collective responsibility in preparation of all aspects of the moot.


The connection with other courses depends on the subject of the moot. Methodologically participation in moot courts generally strengthens students’ ability to identify and analyze legal issues independently of the specific legal field.

The Corse is part of the Department of Law Talent Development Program.

Content - Key areas:
Moot courts are fictional disputes, in which students act as counsel to the “parties” on the basis of a case issued by the organization behind the Moot. The work comprises both preparation of a written memorandum for each party as well as oral argumentation. Some moot court competitions have limited access to the oral rounds.

The content depends of the topic of the particular moot court competition. SDU teams have participated in moots on international trade law, international law, EU law and WTO law.

Travel:
Travelling expenses and accommodation are to be covered for by funding from sponsors and foundations.

Training arrangements:
The team is coached by relevant university and external staff.


Goals description (SOLO taxonomy):
  • The participants are expected to be able to identify and analyze legal problems within the subject area of the moot.
  • The participants are expected to develop excellent advocacy skills enabling them to analyze complex legal problems and argue a legal position both in writing and orally.


Literature:
Literature is extensive but will depend upon the problem presented by the organizers. 

Time of classes:
Tuition starts approximately 1 September, and the course finishes during the spring term. 

Form of instruction:
Written Phase:
The work begins in late September or early October with preparation of the written memoranda, usually one on behalf of both parties to the dispute. Deadlines are set by the organizers, but are usually in January. Participation requires hard and sustained work by the entire team throughout the period of time. During certain periods resources and time for preparing other scheduled exams may be restricted.

Oral Phase:
Preparation for the oral rounds requires extensive training in oral argumentation, legal strategy and rhetoric (advocacy). Dates for the oral rounds are determined by the organizers. The final composition of the team and team roles is made by the team’s coaches.

Time of examination:
Exams take place after returning from the oral rounds, but no later than June. Re-examination in August. Participation in re-examination requires that you have participated in the ordinary examination.

Examination conditions:
None apart from the above.

Form of examination for the certificate:
Oral exam.

Supplemental information for the form of examination:
20 minutes oral exam without preparation within the relevant legal field of the moot.



Programmes:
Jura
5th semester, elective subject. Offered in: Odense
Jura
6th semester, elective subject. Offered in: Odense