Description

The European Law Moot Court Competition is a traditional moot - i.e. simulated court - competition, in which teams of students prepare written pleadings with respect to a problem of European law and present their arguments in oral proceedings before the Court of Justice ("the Court of Justice").

The Case is set each year under the auspices of the European Law Moot Court Society ("the Society").

The Competition takes place annually and is bi-lingual, French and English being the official languages.

What are the Objects of the Competition?

The objects are to: promote awareness of European law, promote expertise in the practise of European law, especially for students, provide practical experience preparing and arguing cases before the Court of Justice, provide a forum for the discussion of questions of current legal, social and practical significance emerging from European integration and the legal and political changes in Europe.

Official Rules
It is important that the Official Rules are read carefully before entering the Competition.

Please note the 2009 / 2010 Official Rules

How does the Competition Work?

The Competition consists of three stages, one written and two oral:

The Written Stage:

The written stage takes place in September - November each year. Teams from Universities from any Country worldwide prepare submissions setting out arguments on behalf of both the Applicant and Defendant in the proceedings before the Court of Justice "invented" in the Case.

The written submissions are sent to a panel of judges made up of the professors, judges, lawyers or Commission representatives who will, during the second stage, act as Judges of the Court of Justice in the Competition. The pleadings are assessed according to criteria established by the Society and set out in the Rules.

The best 48 teams are selected on the basis of their written submissions and invited to attend a Regional Final. The Regional Finals represent the second stage of the Competition.

The Regional Finals:

Four Regional Finals, which are in effect semi-finals, are held in February each year. The location of each varies from year to year.

Teams are required to present their arguments to a panel of eight Judges sitting as the Court of Justice.

Twelve teams are sent to each Regional of which only one will proceed to the third stage, the All European Final in Luxembourg.

The All European Final:

The All European Final takes place at the Court of Justice in March each year before Judges from the Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance. The four winning teams from the Regional Finals present their arguments orally to the Court and the winner is declare after deliberation by the Court.

Other relevant information:

The initial participation fee is 100 Euro per team.

The teams who qualify for one Regional final and the All European Final will pay the Regional Final participation fee and the All European Final participation fee.

The Regional final fees are as reduced as possible, have not been raised, and are the following:

Each student: 200 EURO
Each coach (maximum 1 per team): 250 EURO
Each Guest: 300 EURO

The fee is paid in cash to the regional organisers upon arrival to the regional final and entitles you to the following:

Welcome reception;
3 nights hotel accomodation with your team;
Access to the full programme;
Coffee Breaks;
Final gala dinner;
Administrative costs;
Certificates.

Find out how you can find finantial support for your participation if you qualify for a Regional Final.

The fees for participation in the All-Europea Final are equal to the fees charged for participation at the regional finals