Students

LAWS530 – Jessup International Law Moot

2017 – S3 Block

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Sonya Willis
W3A 523
Shireen Daft
W3A 541
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
24cp in LAW or LAWS units and permission by special approval
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit is based upon the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition that is held each year and involves teams from around the world. An Australian regional round of competition is held annually in Canberra during February and from which the Australian representatives are selected to compete in the international round in Washington (USA), usually in the following April. Students in this unit work as a team in preparing written memorials in relation to a problem set by the competition organisers. The problems raise issues of current interest in the field of international law.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a thorough and critical understanding of legal principles relating to relevant principles and procedures of international law
  • Demonstrate an enquiring, analytical, and thoughtful approach to advocacy before the International Court of Justice
  • Formulate, present and evaluate oral and written arguments, drawing on relevant legal and policy considerations in the field of international law and practice
  • Communicate effectively and persuasively, in verbal and written form, and in a courtroom setting
  • Analyse a hypothetical fact situation, identify legal and factual issues, and apply relevant international legal principles to solve legal problems and advocate for a fictional client
  • Collaborate actively and constructively as part of a team contributing to overall outcomes
  • Foster an ethical, responsible and productive working environment

General Assessment Information

Macquarie Law School Policy on Assessments

In the absence of a successful application for special consideration due to a disruption to studies, any assessment task submitted after its published deadline will not be graded and will receive a mark of zero.  Applications for a Disruption to Studies are made electronically via ask.mq.edu.au and should be accompanied by supporting documentation.  Students should refer to the Disruption to Studies policy for complete details of the policy and a description of the supporting documentation required.

Word limits will be strictly applied and work above the word limit will not be marked. 

All assessments in the unit are to be submitted electronically. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Written Memorials 50% No 12 January 2018
Oral Arguments 50% No Ongoing

Written Memorials

Due: 12 January 2018
Weighting: 50%

Written Memorials must comply with the Official 2018 Rules of the Phillip C Jessup Moot Court Competition. The team must prepare and submit one Applicant and one Respondent memorial.

This assessment will involve both group (50%) and individual (50%) components. Each individual's contribution to the Memorials will be assessed by the Convenors in consultation with the Team (through a peer review process).

Per the official rules, the total length of the Pleadings section, including the section title, any section headings, section sub-headings, the required Conclusion/Prayer for Relief, associated footnotes, signature block, and other language the team might elect to include, for each memorial, must be no longer than 9,500 words.

 

 

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a thorough and critical understanding of legal principles relating to relevant principles and procedures of international law
  • Demonstrate an enquiring, analytical, and thoughtful approach to advocacy before the International Court of Justice
  • Formulate, present and evaluate oral and written arguments, drawing on relevant legal and policy considerations in the field of international law and practice
  • Communicate effectively and persuasively, in verbal and written form, and in a courtroom setting
  • Analyse a hypothetical fact situation, identify legal and factual issues, and apply relevant international legal principles to solve legal problems and advocate for a fictional client
  • Collaborate actively and constructively as part of a team contributing to overall outcomes
  • Foster an ethical, responsible and productive working environment

Oral Arguments

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 50%

Students will make oral arguments during the National Rounds of the Jessup Competition, and in practice moots in the lead up to the competition in Canberra. Students will be assessed on the strength of their oral advocacy skills, ability to think on their feet, their capacity to generate structured, logical and persuasive arguments, and their ability to work collaboratively and in a supportive manner. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a thorough and critical understanding of legal principles relating to relevant principles and procedures of international law
  • Demonstrate an enquiring, analytical, and thoughtful approach to advocacy before the International Court of Justice
  • Formulate, present and evaluate oral and written arguments, drawing on relevant legal and policy considerations in the field of international law and practice
  • Communicate effectively and persuasively, in verbal and written form, and in a courtroom setting
  • Analyse a hypothetical fact situation, identify legal and factual issues, and apply relevant international legal principles to solve legal problems and advocate for a fictional client
  • Collaborate actively and constructively as part of a team contributing to overall outcomes
  • Foster an ethical, responsible and productive working environment

Delivery and Resources

Most engagement in this unit will occur through intensive discussions between the Team and the Convenors (as limited by ILSA rules), and through regular Team meetings.

The written assessments in this unit are fundamental, and are governed by the Rules of the Jessup International Mooting Competition. as promulgated by ILSA. This Unit will also use Practice moots as an essential learning tool. This Unit will NOT use Turnitin (confidentiality of the Memorials is required, in accordance with the Jessup Rules). Papers are to be delivered to the Convenor via email or iLearn.  The Convenors will comment according to the constraints imposed by the ILSA Rules.

  Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials

These are available from the ILSA Jessup official site. Supplementary reading materials may be recommended by the Convenors. 

Learning and Teaching Activities

Continuous Engagement

There are no formal classes of any kind in this unit. Students are expected to work co-operatively in relation to preparation of the written assessment tasks and to attend meetings called by the unit convenor as well as participate in all practice moots organised for this unit. Continual engagement with the tasks and with other team members is essential.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Formulate, present and evaluate oral and written arguments, drawing on relevant legal and policy considerations in the field of international law and practice

Assessment tasks

  • Written Memorials
  • Oral Arguments

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Communicate effectively and persuasively, in verbal and written form, and in a courtroom setting
  • Collaborate actively and constructively as part of a team contributing to overall outcomes
  • Foster an ethical, responsible and productive working environment

Assessment tasks

  • Written Memorials
  • Oral Arguments

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate a thorough and critical understanding of legal principles relating to relevant principles and procedures of international law
  • Demonstrate an enquiring, analytical, and thoughtful approach to advocacy before the International Court of Justice
  • Collaborate actively and constructively as part of a team contributing to overall outcomes

Assessment tasks

  • Written Memorials
  • Oral Arguments

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate a thorough and critical understanding of legal principles relating to relevant principles and procedures of international law
  • Demonstrate an enquiring, analytical, and thoughtful approach to advocacy before the International Court of Justice
  • Analyse a hypothetical fact situation, identify legal and factual issues, and apply relevant international legal principles to solve legal problems and advocate for a fictional client

Assessment tasks

  • Written Memorials
  • Oral Arguments

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate an enquiring, analytical, and thoughtful approach to advocacy before the International Court of Justice
  • Formulate, present and evaluate oral and written arguments, drawing on relevant legal and policy considerations in the field of international law and practice
  • Analyse a hypothetical fact situation, identify legal and factual issues, and apply relevant international legal principles to solve legal problems and advocate for a fictional client

Assessment tasks

  • Written Memorials
  • Oral Arguments

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate an enquiring, analytical, and thoughtful approach to advocacy before the International Court of Justice
  • Formulate, present and evaluate oral and written arguments, drawing on relevant legal and policy considerations in the field of international law and practice
  • Analyse a hypothetical fact situation, identify legal and factual issues, and apply relevant international legal principles to solve legal problems and advocate for a fictional client

Assessment tasks

  • Written Memorials
  • Oral Arguments

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Formulate, present and evaluate oral and written arguments, drawing on relevant legal and policy considerations in the field of international law and practice
  • Communicate effectively and persuasively, in verbal and written form, and in a courtroom setting
  • Collaborate actively and constructively as part of a team contributing to overall outcomes

Assessment tasks

  • Written Memorials
  • Oral Arguments

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Collaborate actively and constructively as part of a team contributing to overall outcomes
  • Foster an ethical, responsible and productive working environment

Assessment tasks

  • Written Memorials
  • Oral Arguments

Changes from Previous Offering

Assessment models have been changed, but core nature of the unit, which is proscribed by the nature of the Competition itself, remains the same.