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Moot Courts

Objectives

The moot court is an academic exercise in which students play the role of lawyers, presenting arguments in a fictitious case before a tribunal made up of specialized jurists, inspired by the world's most important commercial arbitration moot court, the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot.

The moot court is an innovative methodology centered on the student and on experiential constructivist learning based on problem-solving, moving from law in books to law in action. It requires a real immersion of the student in the area of law in question and the transversal use of different legal subjects. It encourages the development of autonomous research and analysis skills, teamwork, writing and public speaking. The effects of participation are reflected in a marked improvement in students' communication and reasoning skills.


General characterization

Code

33155

Credits

4

Responsible teacher

Ana Coimbra Trigo

Hours

Weekly - Available soon

Total - 112

Teaching language

Available soon

Prerequisites

Available soon

Bibliography

Available soon

Teaching method

The teacher of the course, through tutorial guidance, in addition to initially explaining what moot courts are and how they work, and in particular the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, guides the students through the preparation of the written memorial, explaining the fundamental legal issues of the case and the main legal drafting techniques, and then preparing the simulations of the respective oral hearing. In the last week of the semester, the students litigate in several mock arbitration hearings before a jury of arbitrators.


Evaluation method

This course follows a system of continuous evaluation. In groups of four students have to draft a written memorial and litigate in several simulated court trials.



The assessment methodologies include:



1. Written pleadings (50%);



2. Oral pleadings (50%).


Subject matter

1.     Introduction to moot courts. In particular the Willem C. Vis Moot Court.



2.     Drafting of written memoranda.



3.     Preparation of oral pleadings.



4.     Simulation of arbitration proceedings.