The 65th iteration of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition unfolded from March 31st to April 6th, 2024, in the historic city of Washington, D.C., USA. Marking its 65th anniversary, the Jessup Competition stands as the globe's most prestigious and longest-running international moot court contest, often hailed as the "Olympics" of international legal simulation competitions. This esteemed event, orchestrated by the International Law Students Association (ILSA), challenges participants to present both written and oral arguments on complex hypothetical cases of international law before a mock International Court of Justice (ICJ). This year's competition delved into critical issues such as the right to freedom of expression, the status of statelessness, nationality rights, consular protection, and the extent of the United Nations Security Council's authority in the peaceful resolution of disputes.
Following an intense six-month preparation period, our dedicated team emerged victorious in eight consecutive matches during the Chinese Mainland regional rounds. They ultimately rose above 65 formidable Chinese teams to claim the national championship, earning the honor of representing China once more in the international rounds held in Washington. Additionally, team members Thea and Liu Jingyi were both recognized with the Best Debater award for their exceptional performances in the domestic competition.
Figure 1: Our school’s team entered the opening ceremony with the national flag
Figure 2 Team photo
This year, the Jessup Competition drew an impressive 674 teams from more than 100 jurisdictions, with over 150 teams from various countries and regions converging on Washington for the international showdown. At the competition's opening ceremony, our school proudly entered with the national flag held high, representing China as the reigning champions of the region. We faced a diverse array of opponents in the preliminary rounds, including the Muslim University of Morogoro from Tanzania, the University of the West Indies from Jamaica, the University of Cyprus, and Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai. Confronted with intricate legal questions posed by the judges, our team members remained composed, responding with clarity and logic. Their efforts were rewarded with victories in all four matches, securing a global ranking of fourth and a spot in the knockout stage. In the tense knockout rounds, our representative team engaged in a closely fought match against the eventual third-place finisher, the University of São Paulo from Brazil. Though we narrowly missed advancing, we secured a commendable position among the top 32 teams worldwide. Moreover, the memorial submitted by our school's representative team was recognized as the 7th best in the world, earning the prestigious Alona M. Evans Award for Best Memorial. These accomplishments mark the most outstanding results since Beijing Normal University's participation in the Jessup Competition and represent the finest performance by a Chinese team in this event's history. Additionally, Xi Ya and Liu Jingyi were named among the top 100 debaters globally, further solidifying our team's exceptional showing.
Figure 3: Beijing Normal University representative team ranking 7th in memorial in the world
Figure 4: Beijing Normal University representative team ranking fourth in the world in the preliminary round
Figure 5 Ranking of Top 100 Debaters
Figure 6 Medals
The current Beijing Normal University representative team was established in April 2023, coached by Professor Liao Shiping from the School of Law. The onstage team members included Yang Jin (team leader, an undergraduate student of the 2021 Elite Experimental Class in Law), Liu Jingyi (undergraduate student of the 2020 Elite Experimental Class in Law), Xi Ya (undergraduate student of the 2021 Maxdo Experimental Class in Law), Zhang Zichao, and Chang Jingwen (undergraduate students of the 2021 Elite Experimental Class in Law). Other members of the team included Zhang Zixuan (from the 2022 JM program), Ran Jinxuan, Qu Boyi (undergraduates of the 2022 Elite Experimental Class in Law), Li Mingyu, Xu Hao (form the 2023 JM program), and Zhang Boju (form the 2023 International LL.M. program).
The stellar achievements of the Beijing Normal University competition team are inextricably linked to the unwavering support of the institution, the meticulous mentorship, and dedicated companionship provided by Coach Liao Shiping over the years, as well as the relentless efforts and solidarity of the team's predecessors. Since Beijing Normal University first sent a delegation to the competition in 2017, the team has blossomed into a formidable force within the "Jessup" China division. In its 8 appearances, the team has clinched 7 national first-place titles and qualified for the international stage on 6 occasions. This year, they not only retained their championship status in the Chinese division but also secured a place among the top 32 teams globally, demonstrating their exceptional prowess and commitment to excellence.
Figure 7: Competition Scene
Figure 8: A photo taken with the judge and the opposing team
The engagement of students from the Law School of Beijing Normal University in a variety of prestigious international academic competitions has emerged as a cherished tradition and a defining feature of the school. As the Law School continues to advance its internationalization strategy and dedicates increased resources to supporting students' involvement in professional competitions, there is every confidence that the Law School of Beijing Normal University will nurture an ever-growing number of legal professionals with a truly global perspective.