WTO: Moot Court Competition

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

Legal Method and Reasoning; Principles of Public Law; Torts; Dispute Resolution; or in each case their equivalents.

Prior debating or mooting experience, and prior studies in public international law, international economic law, or the World Trade Organization (‘WTO’) are an advantage.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) provides one of the most active systems in the world for resolving international disputes, with fast and effective appellate review, a strong enforcement mechanism, and jurisdiction over some of the largest and most significant matters arising today. This subject involves four students competing in the European Law Students' Association Moot Court Competition on WTO law. Competing teams represent both the complainant and the respondent in a simulated case by preparing written submissions and presenting oral arguments before a mock WTO Panel. The regional round is typically held in Adelaide. The final oral round has traditionally been held in Geneva, Switzerland, but in 2009 was held in Taipei, Taiwan. The 2009-2010 team was selected in May 2009 through a competitive application process. For more information on the competition, see: http://www.elsamootcourt.org/.

This subject offers an exceptional opportunity to work closely with a small group of committed students and staff members, develop your research and oral and written communication skills, improve your understanding of a substantive area of WTO law, and meet a wide range of inspiring people within and outside Melbourne Law School who are working in international law or as professional advocates. Successful participation will provide a sophisticated understanding of dispute settlement in the WTO and the key substantive issues raised by the problem.

• Two written submissions prepared cooperatively by students working together as members of a team (70%)
• Mooting presentations as a team in practice rounds, an Exhibition Moot in Melbourne, and competitive regional and international rounds (30%)
• **The deadline for the written submissions and the dates of regional and international rounds vary from year to year and are set by the competition organisers. Competitions dates can be access from the organiser’s website at http://www.elsamootcourse.org/

World Trade Organization, The Legal Texts: The Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations (Cambridge University Press, 2007 printing including index).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of the subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:

• Oral and written communication skills;
• Thinking skills: critical thinking, problem-solving, analytical skills;
• Capacities in information-seeking and evaluation;
• Planning and time management skills;
• The ability to make a positive contribution to a team project under pressure.