The Canadian National Division of the Jessup Moot Competition is seeking volunteers to serve as moot court judges at the 2025 Bennett Jones Jessup Canadian National Rounds in Ottawa, Ontario from February 20-22, 2025.
This is a great opportunity to interact with current law students and colleagues from across Canada. All volunteers are welcome to attend the Judges’ Reception as well as the Gala Award Dinner. In many jurisdictions, serving as a moot court judge counts towards Continuing Legal Education/ Continued Professional Development credit.
Pre-Competition
Judges will receive background materials including:
The legal problem.
A comprehensive Bench Memo that details the problem and provides a general overview of the public international law principles teams are expected to address.
Copies of the teams' written arguments are also available for judges to review prior to adjudication of the round.
A webinar info session the weekend before the competition to review rules, processes and answer any questions you have.
Competition
Oral round judges will receive a pre-round briefing and sit in panels of three to score the performance of competing schools.
Judges have the opportunity, and are encouraged, to provide feedback to students following the round.
Organizers attempt to balance the panel based on the judges' practice areas and experience in international law; familiarity in public international law is an asset but not a requirement to judge.
Rounds typically last 2.5 hours, and depending on one's familiarity with the legal issues, can require the same amount of time for preparation.
Meals and/or snacks are provided pre- and post-round.
Application Process
The Canadian oral rounds judging application process now has two stages. First, if you would like to apply to volunteer as a 2025 Canadian oral rounds judge, please complete your "Judging Profile" no later than December 6. Add Canada to your "2025 Judging Preferences".
Applicants who pass this first stage of the application will be contacted on or before December 20 for more detailed information regarding qualifications, team affiliations/conflicts of interest, and scheduling. This will involve a Google Form, similar to what has been used in years prior. Applicants who pass the second stage will be contacted in early January to confirm their judging assignments.
To apply, please register on the International Law Students Association website, complete your Judging Profile, and add Canada to your "2025 Judging Preferences".
Deadline for judge sign-up: Friday, December 6, 2024
If you have any questions, please contact Dana Hagg at dhagg@hmclawyers.com