Student: Pavi Hariharan (2014)

Aristotle said, “For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them”, and the International Law Competitive Moot Course allows you to do just that. Following a selection process, successful candidates are given an opportunity to attain course credit for participation in their respective moot competitions.

This program is open to those who have been selected to represent UNSW - 23 - in one of the following competitions: the Jessup International Law Moot; Pictet International Humanitarian Law Competition; Vis International Commercial Arbitration Competition; International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition; or International Chamber of Commerce – International Commercial Mediation Competition.

Each of these competitions is a prestigious international competition involving extensive research and writing of case memorials, followed by participation in oral mooting rounds. Students have the possibility of representing Australia in final competition rounds overseas. Selection for the moots is based on a combination of academic merit, research, and/or mooting skills and experience.

Not only is the course both useful and educational but it also provides students with an opportunity to travel overseas and be a part of the worldwide mooting community. Competitions such as the Phillip C Jessup International Law Moot are highly regarded within the legal community. Additionally, students learn by way of experiential learning and are not required to attend classes. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed both the flexibility afforded by doing the course and the opportunity to hone my mooting skills.

Students who wish to undertake this subject should however be aware that the lack of formal assessments does mean that they will need to commit a lot of time and energy during the summer months as well during the course of the semester to their respective moots.

Overall, the program provides students the opportunity to shine outside the University environment and represent the University in an international forum. Students will find their legal research and mooting skills to have improved exponentially by the end of their respective moots. I highly recommend this course to those with an interest in International Law as well as those who seek to distinguish themselves from other law graduates given the prestigious nature of the moots.