On February 6th 2019, Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) welcomed the participants of the National Round of Philip Jessup International Competitions for the second time.

The Philip Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition has been held every year since 1960. Today, Ph. Jessup competition is the largest and most famous competition in the world in international law for law students, with over 3000 participants from 700 law schools in 100 countries and jurisdictions. The Competition is a simulation of a fictional dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the United Nations. Teams prepare oral and written pleadings arguing both the applicant and respondent positions of the case.

This year, students from three universities in Tashkent, namely, Westminster International University in Tashkent, Tashkent State University of Law and University of World Economy and Diplomacy, fought for the right to represent Uzbekistan in Washington. According to the results of the national championship, the best team that won first place will receive the right to represent Uzbekistan at the international rounds in Washington (DC, USA).

The staged lawsuits, quite popular in the framework of Western education systems, they allow students to acquire practical skills, and are an effective and efficient educational tool. The presence of practical skills and experience in litigation are a prerequisite for starting a successful career in large international companies, which place increasing demands on young professionals.

This year’s guest of honor is Lesley Benn, the Executive Director of the International Law Students Association, an organization that owns and manages Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition worldwide. Arriving in Uzbekistan as an expert at the national stage of the competition, she noted that the importance of participation is justified by the fact that students learn to conduct legal research, hone their oratory skills, and also receive new knowledge from experts and specialists in various fields of international law.