The Athens University Law School participates each year in a series of national and international student Moot Court or Arbitration competitions, in the fields of Public International Law, Human Rights, Humanitarian Law, European Law, International Criminal Law, Roman Law, Space Law, Air Law, Commercial Law, Commercial Arbitration, International Commercial Arbitration and United Nations simulations, in which it has obtained a significant number of awards.
A Moot Court is a simulation of trial or arbitration, in which students compete in English, on a case involving complex legal issues, acting as lawyers representing the plaintiff, the defendant or the parties of an arbitration. They answer questions asked by the judges and challenge the arguments of their opponents. Some competitions also require the contestants to submit written memoranda or legal sources relevant to their argumentation. Law Professors and eminent legal practitioners are sitting as "Judges" in the competiton. Competitors are graded on the basis of specific criteria and the best teams and speakers are awarded team and individual awards, as well as best written memoranda awards.
Moot Courts differ from Debate contests, as they are based on the study and application of the law of a particular discipline and follow their own rules of trial or arbitrage conduct. They constitute an excellent educational tool for familiarizing students with legal research, forensic rhetoric, law ethics and time management, by cultivating skills necessary to lawyers, such as analytical and synthetic legal thinking and accuracy in expression. These international competitions bring students into contact with the global community of lawyers and the latest legal developments, broadening their horizons, enhancing fair competition and strenghtening cooperation between Universities.
The outstanding achievements and distinctions received by our students in several international competitions rank the Athens Law School - regarding the total number of awards over the last years - among the best in the world.
For their participation in such competitions, students prepare alongside their other academic obligations, over several months, with the assistance of their Professors and older students acting as coaches. Regarding the selection and preparation of the student groups, announcements are posted on the Law School's website each academic year.
