Congratulations are in order for Santa Clara University’s Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court team: Thomas Howe, Leta Singfield, Pami Vyas, and Justin Miyai. The team placed second overall (out of 14 schools) in the Pacific regional rounds that were held recently at Chapman University School of Law.
The Santa Clara team experienced an almost perfect run in the preliminary rounds, losing only once to the University of San Francisco. Along the way, they beat California Western School of Law, who won the regional rounds last year, and the University of Denver, who has competed at the world championships three times. In the semi-finals, the Santa Clara team went up against the University of Hawaii, a seasoned Jessup contender. Santa Clara’s win there pit the team in the finals against University of Texas, which has competed in the world championships for at least the last three years. Unfortunately, Santa Clara narrowly lost to Texas, who as a result will compete next month in the world championships in Washington D.C. “The team’s consistently strong performance during this long weekend is a testament to the strength of Santa Clara University School of Law’s programs in both international law and advocacy,” noted Professor Beth Van Schaack, the team’s coach for the competition. Professor Van Schaack has inaugurated an International Law Practicum course to prepare students for participating in the various international law competitions.
The Jessup competition requires law students to apply their knowledge of public international law to a fictional problem based on real world issues faced by the international community. This year’s problem, for example, involved a complex fact pattern involving issues of state succession, indigenous rights and the attribution of responsibility to a state for a corporation’s wrongdoing. According to team member Pami Vyas, “Participating in Jessup has been one of the best experiences I have had in law school. It has reinforced my original reasons for choosing to study law and my excitement about the field of international law.”
The Jessup competition is one of several international law competitions in which the Law School participates under the aegis of the School’s Center on Global Law and Policy. This year, students will also compete in the Pictet Concours in Serbia/Montenegro, a competition focused on international humanitarian law; the Manfred Lachs International Space Law Moot, in Washington D.C., and the International Maritime Law Arbitration Moot Competition to be held this year at Murdoch University School of Law in Australia. Earlier last fall, several students¾including Thomas Howe of this year’s Jessup team¾competed at the inaugural International Criminal Court competition, earning a spot in the final competition round as well as several individual accolades for best oral advocate and brief.
