The students’ team of Armenian-Russian (Slavonic) University is the winner of 2014 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition Armenian National Round. They believe this is the best win for them, as they achieved it as a result of a really serious competition.
The enthusiasm of the winner team was so much that just in a few minutes after the nomination they left to celebrate their victory.
“We were in a really high mood, and that was the reason of leaving so quickly because these were our emotions at the moment,” Sona Mantashyan, member of the winner team said to Iravaban.net.
Armenia has been participating in the annual Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition since 2000. The Armenian Young Lawyers Association for already 14 years organizes the moot court in Armenia, in cooperation with the Law Foundation of Armenia and “Legal Alliance” Law Firm.
The main objective of the Competition is to promote carrying out independent research and study in the sphere of the international law among the students.
“The research activities provide opportunity to the students to get acquainted with the case law, the well known principles of the international law and apply them in their work.” Syuzanna Soghomonyan, Advocate, Co-Administrator of the Armenian National Rounds of Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.
The National Round of the moot court consists of two rounds written and oral.
The teams first get acquainted with the problem of the moot court which is sent from Washington and is translated into Armenian language. They study the sources of the international law and prepare the memorials both for the Applicant and the Respondent. Three judges evaluate the team’s memorials in the written rounds. After that the teams compete in the oral rounds.
“We have worked a lot to participate in the competition and we are really impressed as well.” Syuzi Hovhannisyan, member of Yerevan Northern University team.
Armine Harutyunyan, Advocate, Member of the Chamber of Advocates of Armenia, who was involved as a judge in the oral rounds noted that the level of knowledge of the participants is growing from year to year.
“The International law is the sphere, which provides a person opportunity to develop and to improve the skills constantly,” Armine Harutyunyan, Judge of the Armenian National Rounds of Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.
Luiza Manukyan, Senior Prosecutor of International-Legal Relations Division of the RA General Prosecutor’s Office agrees with Armine Harutyunyan’s opinion that better prepared teams participate in the competition from year to year.
“It was very interesting to evaluate,” Luiza Manukyan, Senior Prosecutor of International-Legal Relations Division of the RA General Prosecutor’s Office, judge of the Competition.
Marina Tashchyan, Head of Legal Service of BTA Bank” CJSC, advocate serves as a judge of the competition for several years already. “I notice the professional growth of the participants and the students from year to year. And this is appreciable.” Marina Tashchyan, Head of Legal Service of BTA Bank” CJSC, advocate.
Two teams advanced to the final oral round. They appeared before the judges as the Applicant and Respondent, argued the arguments of the rivals and defended their own points of view. Further the three judges chose the winner team.
“We may say they had worked much on the theoretical aspects and were well prepared. It was really difficult to decide the winner.” Tigran Atanesyan, Advocate, Member of the RA Chamber of Advocates, presiding judge of the final round.
Lisa Grigoryan, Judge of the Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction of Erebuni and Nubarashen Communities of Yerevan, member of the jury of the final round attaches importance to organization of such competitions. She believes that the law students shall participate in such moot courts at least once in a year.
“I think the universities shall organize such moot courts themselves. The moot court is the basic tool which is widely applied abroad.”
Just on the contrary to Lisa Gevorgyan’s opinion, Mariam Zadoyan, Co-Administrator of the Armenian National Rounds of Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition notes that sometimes the universities fail to provide a corresponding expert to coach the teams.
“The students are discouraged and the number of participant teams reduces.”
This year 5 teams applied for participation of which 4 participated in the oral round.
The memorial of Yerevan State University team was recognized the best. Diana Leonidi from YSU was recognized the Best Oralist of the first preliminary round. Grigor Tunyan, from National Academy of Science was recognized the Best Oralist of the 2nd and 4th preliminary rounds. He was recognized the Best Oralist of the Armenian National Competition as well. Grigor Grigoryan, from Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University was recognized the Best Oralist of the 3rd preliminary round.
On April the winner team will arrive in Washington to compete with the teams of over 90 countries that participate in the International Rounds. It is due to mention that the Compromise for the national and international rounds of the moot court is the same.
In the meantime the members of winner team have decided to celebrate the New Year and their victory together. They assure that they were working to prepare for the competition even on the New Year’s Eve.