The 64th Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, renowned as the "Olympics" of moot court competitions, took place in Washington D.C., USA, from April 8th to 15th, 2023. Marking a significant return to in-person proceedings after a four-year hiatus, this year's event saw a record-breaking level of participation. Universities from more than 100 countries and regions across the globe engaged in fierce competition at domestic and regional levels, with nearly 700 institutions vying for a spot. The cream of the crop, comprising 138 teams, ultimately converged on Washington for the final showdown.
Following a six-month preparation period, our School's team emerged victorious, securing third place in the points competition and fifth place in the knockout rounds within the Chinese Mainland competition area, which featured 64 teams. This remarkable achievement qualified our team as one of the eight Chinese contingents to compete in the international event in Washington. Additionally, team members Xi Ya and Zhang Yi were honored with the Best Debater award in the domestic competition, placing 14th and 19th individually.
Figure 1: Our school's representative team once again competed in the International Rounds in Washington
In the international rounds, our school's delegation encountered formidable adversaries from across the globe, including Dalhousie University from Canada, Waseda University from Japan, the reigning domestic champions of the UK, King's College London, and Thammasat University from Thailand, in four intense group stage matches. Confronted with such prestigious opponents and the intricate challenges posed by the judges, our team members remained composed, delivering responses that were both measured and rational. Though they narrowly missed securing a spot in the top 48 globally, their performance was a testament to the professional acumen and poise of our school's contingent. Moreover, the memo crafted by our team was recognized with a 10th-place ranking worldwide and was distinguished with the Alona M. Evans Award for Best Memorial—a distinction that marks the highest achievement for a Chinese team in the international rounds’ memo category. In the final standings, our school's representative team finished 67th.
Figure 2: Our team members Zhang Yi and Xi Ya
Figure 3: The memo by our school's representative team ranked tenth in the world
The Beijing Normal University Jessup representative team was formed in April 2022, coached by Professor Liao Shiping from the Law School. The participating team members include Yin Nuohan (team leader, an undergraduate student of the 2020 Maxdo Experimental Class in Law), Zhang Yi (undergraduate student of the 2019 Maxdo Experimental Class in Law), Qu Shen (undergraduate student of the 2019 Maxdo Experimental Class in Law), Xi Ya (undergraduate student of the 2021 Maxdo Experimental Class in Law), and Liu Yueying (from the 2022 LL.M. program). Other members of the team include: Li Zhixin (from the 2022 LL.D. program), Zhang Zitong (from the 2020 JM program), Liu Hanqing (from the 2022 JM program), Zhang Zixuan (from the 2022 JM program), Chang Jingwen (undergraduate student of the 2021 Elite Experimental Class in Law), Yang Jin (undergraduate student of the 2021 Elite Experimental Class in Law), and Li Yuxuan (undergraduate student of the 2021 Maxdo Experimental Class in Law).
Figure 4: BNU Jessup Team (2023) Group Photo
Figure 5: Photo of our school's representative team and the Italian representative team
The stellar showing by the Beijing Normal University Law School's Jessup team is a testament to the unwavering support from the institution, the meticulous mentorship and dedicated companionship provided by Coach Liao Shiping through the years, as well as the relentless diligence and collective endeavors of past team members. In just seven short years, the representative team from Beijing Normal University Law School has swiftly ascended to become a formidable force in the "Jessup" competition within China, clinching six national first-place titles and securing qualification for the international stage on five occasions.
The involvement of students from the Law School of Beijing Normal University in a range of prestigious international academic competitions has emerged as a cherished tradition and a distinct feature of the college. As the Law School and Maxdo College further entrench their internationalization strategy, coupled with their commitment to investing in and supporting students' engagement in professional competitions, we are confident that the Law School of Beijing Normal University will nurture an increasing number of legal professionals with a global perspective.
Looking forward to Jessup team from Beijing Normal University maintaining its momentum and surpassing its achievements in the coming year!