Internationalization

Moot Courts

Moot Courts are simulations of trials, where students have the opportunity to represent one of the parties in a hypothetical litigation process under question.

The main objective of a Moot Court is to prepare students for persuasive advocacy within an academic environment. In these competitions, students develop various types of skills such as oratory, teamwork, time management, management under pressure and research. In addition, it is an exercise that leads to the deepening of knowledge related to the competition while also enriching the students’ curriculum, and an excellent way of promoting contact and support between students and teachers.

NOVA School of Law participates in and organizes a number of Moot Court competitions, being without doubt the Portuguese Law School with the best results, both nationally and internationally.

The research unit of NOVA School of Law, CEDIS, supports the library with national funding from FCT, I.P. (Foundation for Science and Technology, Public Institute) under projects UIDB/00714/2020 and UIDP/00714/2020.

Nationals Internationals

National Moot Courts

National Moot Court of International Public Law

Organized in partnership by the Portuguese Society for International Law, the Students’ Union of the NOVA School of Law and Vieira de Almeida & Associados, this Moot Court consists of a simulation of a hypothetical case between two states before the International Court of Justice. It brings together up to eight teams of law schools from all over the country.

Portuguese Moot Court of Competition Law

The Portuguese Moot Court of Competition Law is a joint initiative of the NOVA School of Law and the School of Law of the University of Lisbon, organized in collaboration with the Competition, Regulatory and Supervisory Court. The competition is also sponsored by the law firm Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva e Associados through the Miguel Galvão Teles Institute. The cases in this simulation focus on competition law issues and the teams only discuss the case through oral arguments.

Tax Moot Court

The Tax Moot Court is a pioneering competition organized by PwC, dating from its first edition in May 2019. This competition aims at a debate on tax law issues. Eight teams as well as a collective of 4 Judges, 3 Jury members and 11 participants, attended the 2019 event. The NOVA School of Law was the great winner of this first Edition.

International Moot Courts

Europa Law Moot Court

This competition counts with the participation of teams from 8 European Universities. The simulation consists of a discussion of one or several hypothetical questions referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union for a preliminary ruling. The competition has two stages: the first is where the teams are prepared to write written pleadings for the resolution of the case, and the oral rounds, where the teams face each other in person, each representing one of the parties to the dispute.

Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot

The objective of Vis Arbitral Moot is to promote the study of International Commercial Law and arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution. This competition is split into two essential phases: the writing of written pleadings for each of the parties involved in the dispute, and the oral argument and discussion of the fictitious case between the various participating teams – both to be evaluated by expert arbitrators of the issues at stake. It is the largest Moot Court competition in the world having originated in over 20 pre-moots during the preparation of the teams.

Telders International Law Moot Court Competition

Organized by the Grotius Centre for International Law of the University of Leiden is one of the most important Moot Courts in Europe. It takes place in The Hague, at the International Court of Justice, and deals with issues of public international law. It hosts teams of European Law Schools. In addition to the rounds of oral argument taking place in The Hague, teams are also invited to submit written submissions.

Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court

It is the most prestigious Moot Court competition in the world. The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court takes place annually in Washington, D.C., in the United States of America, and brings together, in its international round, more than 100 teams from over 80 states. This competition, with a long timetable, begins with the submission of written pleadings on the case, follows the national rounds and ends with the prestigious international round.

John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition

This Moot Court competition aims to simulate the dispute settlement method of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Teams prepare their resolution of the fictitious case, which will be analyzed by trade law experts and WTO representatives; in an activity inviting students to produce written submissions but also to discuss the fictitious case orally. The competition is organized in regional rounds, which normally consist of 5 qualifiers. The best teams from around the world have the opportunity to participate in a final oral round, which takes place in Geneva. It is carried out by ELSA International, the largest organization of young Law students at European level.