On March 8, 2022, the outcomes of the 63rd " Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition" and the 20th China National Round Selection Competition were revealed, with the Beijing Normal University representative team clinching the first-place award in the national competition.

Figure 1 Winning teams

The Beijing Normal University team for the Jessup competition was established in April 2021, under the guidance of Professor Liao Shiping from the Law School. The team is made up of Chang Jingzi and Liu Jianing, both from the 2018 Maxdo Experimental Class in Law; Qu Shen, the team leader, and Zhang Yi, both from the 2019 Maxdo Experimental Class in Law; Hu Lingli from the 2020 JM program; Zhang Xiaoyue from the 2018 Excellent Experimental Class in Law; Yin Nuohan and Li Yuxiu, both from the 2020 Maxdo Experimental Class in Law; Ma Shinan; and Zhang Zitong from the 2020 JM program. Kudos to the Beijing Normal University team for this remarkable achievement!

Figure 2: Team photo

Due to the impact of the global pandemic, the offline court defense segment for this year has been cancelled, and all competitions were held online.

The 2022 Jessup competition centered on themes such as the Sutha independence referendum, COVID-19 prevention and control measures, the right to freedom of expression online, botnet interference in referendum elections, extraterritorial law enforcement and jurisdiction in cyberspace, and the admissibility of illegally obtained evidence. The team initiated the training of new members in May 2021 and embarked on preliminary legal research related to the competition's keywords from August 2021. Following the announcement of the competition topics in September 2021, the team intensified their efforts by organizing comprehensive legal research, group presentations and discussions, and receiving evaluations from Coach Liao. They drafted memorials, prepared defense briefs, and engaged in mock courtroom hearings. After a year of meticulous preparation, the team submitted their memorial on January 13, 2022, and competed in five intense rounds from March 4 to March 8. The diligent mentorship of Coach Liao and the unwavering dedication of the team members culminated in Beijing Normal University's competition team securing the first prize in the China National Round. The outstanding performance is a testament to the relentless efforts and commitment of both the coach and the team members, and it stands as a well-deserved accolade for their hard work.

Figure 3: Poster of Jessup's official competition theme (Prof. Liam Hunland)

There are four issues in this competition, namely the admissibility of illegal evidence, the legality of financial support for referendums and botnet operations, court orders to ban social platform accounts, and the legality of destroying botnets outside the domain.

Figure 4: Team Members' New Year's Eve Celebration

Figures 5-6 Selfie and group photo of the group for Issues 1-2

Figure 7: Fried chicken supper of the group for Issues 3-4

Figure 8: Early morning after the overnight work for preparing the petition

Figure 9: Memories of staying up all night

Figure 10. The Rear Main Building in early morning

Figure 11: Family photo during oral preparation period

The stellar achievements of the Beijing Normal University Law School's representative team are inextricably linked to the robust support from the school's leadership, faculty, alumni, and past members of both the Law School and Maxdo College. Throughout the preparation phase, Coach Liao offered unwavering support and guidance, particularly in the realms of legal research and document composition. His around-the-clock mentorship in these areas was instrumental in the team's readiness and participation in the competition. Distinguished alumni, such as Guo Zixuan and Guo Yiwei, who have previously competed in the Jessup, contributed their valuable insights and assistance to the current team members. Veterans like Yang Chen (from the 2016 Maxdo Experimental Class in Law), Liu Mingxin (from the 2017 Maxdo Experimental Class in Law), Li Zhoujie (from the 2017 Maxdo Experimental Class in Law), and Guo Zihe (from the 2017 Maxdo Experimental Class in Law) kept a close eye on the team's progress, offering substantial support and guidance in pre-competition training, legal research, and courtroom advocacy.

Participation in prestigious international academic competitions has become a tradition and hallmark of the Beijing Normal University Law School and Maxdo College. Backed by the strong leadership and teaching staff of both institutions, and with the heartfelt support of former competitors and the diligent efforts of all participants, the Law School's representative team has swiftly matured into a formidable force in the "Jessup" competition over the past six years. As the Law School and Maxdo College deepen their commitment to internationalization and invest in students' participation in various professional competitions, we are confident that they will nurture an increasing number of legal professionals with a global perspective.

Moreover, the Law School and Maxdo College are dedicated to continuing their strong support for international mock court competitions, such as Jessup, Vis Moot, ICC, and more. We encourage students of all levels within the Law School to join these competitions, broaden their horizons, sharpen their skills, and demonstrate their talents on the global stage. We also hope that the members of this Jessup competition team will continue to push forward and exemplify the spirit of Beijing Normal University students in the competitions to come!