To be eligible to apply for the Jessup Moot competition, students must:

• Be a current ANU Bachelor of Laws (LLB (Hons)) or Juris Doctor (JD) student; and
• Have completed or be completing five 1000 or 6100 level LAWS courses; and
• Submit an application before the deadline.

The problem for the 2025 competition will be released in late September 2024, but the ANU team will not begin work until after the completion of second semester exams in November, whereupon they will begin in earnest preparing their written memorials. Memorials are due in early January, and after their submission the team’s focus will shift towards practice for the oral presentation of submissions. The team will practise together regularly for around six weeks, while simultaneously conducting ongoing research to support their submissions.

The ANU team will compete with other Australian law schools in the national rounds in February 2025. The winning team from the Australian rounds will travel to the United States to compete in the international rounds in Washington DC in April 2025.

The domestic Jessup rounds are of a very high standard, with Australian teams always performing well in the international competition: since 2000, Australian university teams have won the international rounds ten times!

Wanshu Cong will coach the ANU College of Law team for the 2025 competition in collaboration with an assistant coach.

Team members are required to prepare for Jessup full time from the end of November exams until the Australian rounds in February 2025. (This will not require constant presence in Canberra except during certain periods, but team members must be available online during the entire preparation period). Modest scholarships are available to those who may suffer financial hardship due to this requirement.

Jessup unquestionably requires hard work, but competitors invariably find it an invaluable and formative experience. It is a unique opportunity to meet some of the nation’s best law students and professionals. Teams may have a maximum of five members.

More information can be found on the International Law Students Association (ILSA) website.

Applicants will be assessed based on the following criteria:

• Familiarity with International Law: A foundational understanding of key principles and concepts in international law.
• Experience in Research and Mooting: While not mandatory, prior involvement in research and mooting is preferred.
• Academic Performance: Consideration will be given to academic achievements and overall performance.
• Team Collaboration Skills: The ability to work effectively within a team setting.

It is advantageous for at least one team member to have strong IT and editing skills, especially in Microsoft Word, to support the challenging task of creating memorials.

It is important to note that team members must not have completed their LLB or JD by the time the competition takes place.

As the Jessup Moot is a course offered by the ANU College of Law, equity considerations and access to learning opportunities will be essential factors for the Course Convenor during the team selection process.