Australian students win global legal comp

Take a good look at these faces as they could be some of the leading lights of the legal profession in Australia in the not too distant future.

The team from the University of Sydney are the 2011 World Champions after defeating a team from Columbia University in the Philip C Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition known as the Jessup Cup.

The team comprising Patrick Bateman, Chris Beshara, Glenn Kembrey, Chelsea Tabart and Patrick Wall competed in Washington DC this month beating more than 130 teams from 80 countries to win the cup.

According to the University of Sydney, the competition simulates a fictional dispute between countries. Teams must argue their case before an International Court of Justice using both oral and written arguments.

The final round took place on March 24 and was judged by Thomas Buergenthal, former judge at the International Court of Justice; Claudio Grossman, Chair of the United Nations Committee against Torture and professor and dean of American University Washington College of Law; and Mark Pieth, Chair of the OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions and a professor of law at Basel University.

This is the second year in a row Australia has won the Jessup Cup and the 10th win from an Australian law school since 1977.    

Article from CareerOne, April 2011.