JESSUP 2025 - Annual International Refugee Law Student Writing Competition

ABOUT THE JESSUP

Jessup is the world's largest moot court competition, with participants from roughly 700 law schools in 100 countries and jurisdictions. The Competition is a simulation of a fictional dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the United Nations. One team is allowed to participate from every eligible school. Teams prepare oral and written pleadings arguing both the applicant and respondent positions of the case.

The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is an advocacy competition for law students. Teams of law students compete against one another through the presentation of oral and written pleadings to address timely issues of public international law in the context of a hypothetical legal dispute between nations. The Compromis is the springboard for the Jessup Competition. Written by leading scholars of international law, the Compromis is a compilation of agreed upon facts about the dispute that is submitted for adjudication to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. After the Compromis is released, students begin researching and preparing arguments for both sides of the dispute, drafting and editing written pleadings, called “memorials,” and practicing oral presentations. Each team prepares two written memorials and two 45-minute oral presentations, one for each party to the dispute (the “Applicant” and the “Respondent”). Teams argue alternately as Applicant and Respondent against competing teams before a panel of judges, simulating a proceeding before the International Court of Justice.

Whether you are a student, lawyer, law firm or simply a friend of the Jessup, find out how you can get involved with the competition. Competitors, judges, volunteers, and sponsors are all an essential part of the success of the Jessup Competition. 

• COMPETITORS: Students pursuing a law degree or a degree related to international law at an eligible school may compete on behalf of that school so long as they are enrolled at least part-time and have not engaged in the practice of law after graduating from another law degree program.
• JUDGES: The Jessup Competition is judged by an elite corps of volunteer attorneys. Judges are needed at all levels of the Competition (National and Global) to evaluate and score the written and oral pleadings of the competitors.
• ADMINISTRATORS: Each year, the Jessup National Rounds take place in more than 50 countries thanks to the hard work of our volunteer administrators. Administrators organize the rounds and communicate with the teams in their country.
• SPONSORS: The Jessup wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. Learn more about how your firm or organization can support the work of the Jessup to promote international law in 100 countries.

JESSUP 2025

The Jessup 2025 Problem will present the following issues:

1. The rights and obligations of other members of the international community when two persons claim to be the legitimate president of a state;
2. Invocation of immunity for government officials accused of grave violations of human rights;
3. The legal consequences of receding coastlines for the maritime zones of coastal states; and
4. The interpretation of the compromissory clause in a treaty creating a regional organization.